Sticking to his anti-Modi theme, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday launched verbal attacks on the prime minister and BJP president Amit Shah at a public rally in the Shiv Sena stronghold of Kalachowkie in South Central Mumbai. Thackeray praised former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee saying he had never used the Kargil war to garner votes.

"It is really sad that Modi is using the martyrdom of soldiers for votes," he said adding that the ruling party was likely to exit this year as he pointed at businessmen Mukesh Ambani and Uday Kotak supporting the Congress candidate from South Mumbai, Milind Deora. "I don't remember a single incident where a businessman has openly supported a political candidate," he said.