Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde attacks Uddhav Thackeray over challenge to Devendra Fadnavis; takes jibe about strength

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday took a swipe at Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray over the latters dare to Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and said those talking of challenging others must realise if they have the strength to do so reported news agency PTIThackeray on Wednesday threw down a challenge to Fadnavis saying either you will be there or I will reported PTIMaharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said no one should speak of finishing others completely in politicsThose who talk of giving a challenge should realize where we stand For that one needs strength Just like making random comments no one can finish the other one Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said reported PTIMaharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule told reporters in Nagpur that Thackerays language showed his mental bankruptcyThackeray is worried about his partys falling vote share in Konkan and Mumbai The day he aligned with the Congress his supporters abandoned him When aligned with BJP he won 18 Lok Sabha seats but now the numbers have fallen Thackeray is showing his mental bankruptcy by stooping so low and attacking Fadnavis Bawankule said reported PTIThe people of Maharashtra are with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Mahayuti ruling alliance comprising Shiv Sena BJP and NCP will win assembly polls convincingly he assertedAsked on speculation about Fadnavis being considered for the post BJP national president in place of JP Nadda who is now Union minister Bawankule said he does not know what the central leadership will decideHowever Devendra Fadnavis has huge organisational experience He has worked as Maharashtra BJP president and has national organisational experience as well But Maharashtra needs the vision of Devendra Fadnavis he saidShiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday lashed out at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the allegations levelled by NCP SP leader Anil Deshmukh and threw down a challenge to the former ally saying either you will be there or I willSpeaking at a gathering of party workers Thackeray also dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come to Maharashtra once again to campaign in the coming assembly elections after the BJPs poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls in the stateAnil Deshmukh recently spoke about how Fadnavis planned to put me and Uddhavs son Aaditya behind bars After tolerating everything I now stand with determination Either you will be there or I will Thackeray said indicating how acrimonious the relations between the two former good friends have becomeReacting to Thackerays tirade elsewhere Fadnavis said he does not bother anyone on his own but if anyone messes with me I do not spare him eitherLast week Deshmukh a former home minister of the state alleged that an intermediary of Fadnavis had asked him to provide affidavits against important figures in the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA government including then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and minister Aaditya Thackeray to avoid getting embroiled in litigation himself Fadnavis promptly denied the allegationWith inputs from PTI