Prithviraj Chavan says Rs 500 crore audio clip is plot to finish Jarange and Eknath Shinde

The audio clip linked to Rs 500 crore that Manoj Jarange Patil made public has stirred Maharashtra politics. Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has now made a significant claim on it.

Chavan said the clip is a devious move to finish the leadership of both Jarange Patil and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He demanded a technical and forensic analysis of the clip.

Chavan also spoke about Sushilkumar Shinde, who is rumoured to be joining the BJP. Chavan said he suspected the BJP had offered him a place in the party. He added that Sushilkumar Shinde has not accepted the offer.

On the Gokul election result in Kolhapur, Chavan congratulated Satej Patil. According to him, the Chief Minister went to Kolhapur to play gulal assuming the result would be a one-sided 25-0. Chavan taunted that the people of Kolhapur rejected him. He also claimed that change in the country is inevitable.

The Rs 500 crore audio clip claim, the talk of Sushilkumar Shinde joining the BJP and the political criticism over the Gokul result are likely to heat up the state's political climate again.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Chandrakant Khaire has also made serious allegations against the BJP and the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena in this matter. He asked who made Manoj Jarange Patil big and why there is now an attempt to sideline him.

According to Khaire, Jarange Patil worked to secure justice and rights for the Maratha community, which is why the community stood with him. Khaire claimed that political leaders, seeing Jarange's growing influence, have begun to worry about what will become of them.

Khaire demanded that the disputed audio clip be sent for forensic examination and the truth be brought before the public. He said the Chief Minister's name is being discussed in this matter, so the Chief Minister should not decide on it himself. The government should hold an impartial inquiry and decide afterwards, he said.

Khaire also raised questions about the alleged Rs 500 crore transaction. He said that if Dr Shrikant Shinde's name is being taken in connection with the transaction, he too should be investigated. Khaire also claimed that the BJP, the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena and Union Home Minister Amit Shah's blessings are behind the whole matter.

Khaire also referred to the Tiger Shop firing case, the mayor's office and the threat to blow up Amitabh Bachchan's bungalow with a bomb. On these issues he made serious allegations about the state's law and order.