Maharashtra minister and state NCP president Jayant Patil accused MNS chief Raj Thackeray of attacking the NCP and its president Sharad Pawar at the BJP's behest. Patil was talking to reporters at Mangaon in Raigad, a day after Thackeray hit out at NCP leaders at a rally in neighbouring Thane.

The opposition BJP in Maharashtra harbours a grudge against Pawar as the NCP chief along with Shiv Sena and Congress formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state, he said.