Darekar hits back at Kadam: no abusing BJP while staying in Mahayuti

State politics appears to have taken a new turn. Leaders of the Mahayuti had already been trading barbs for various reasons. Now an audio clip presented by Manoj Jarange Patil has heated up the atmosphere further. The fallout of the audio bomb Jarange set off has caused a scramble in the Mahayuti, and considerable friction has begun between the BJP and the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena.

After the clip, Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam had sharply criticised the BJP. Now the BJP has hit back. BJP leader Pravin Darekar replied firmly to Kadam, saying that levelling allegations against the BJP while remaining in the Mahayuti at the same time would not do. Darekar expressed his displeasure in these very words.

Responding to Kadam's criticism, Darekar said that if low-level allegations were made against the BJP, the party would not sit silent. He also warned plainly: "Staying with the BJP and hurling abuses, this we will not tolerate."

Referring to photographs of Prasad Lad and Kalkute, Darekar questioned the political exchange of allegations. He also targeted Kadam over who takes whose contract.

On the Rs 500 crore transaction mentioned in the alleged audio clip, Darekar said the investigation should be allowed to finish. He said Eknath Shinde's stand is that he has neither given nor taken any money. According to Darekar, it is not right to draw an immediate conclusion from the conversation in the clip. He said the truth would emerge in questioning by the investigating agencies. He also made clear that, before the investigation, statements that create tension in the Mahayuti should be avoided.

Darekar also spoke on the chief minister's post. He said Shinde's workers may wish for him to become chief minister again. But who becomes chief minister depends not only on wishes but also on political numbers. In other words, no one becomes chief minister just because someone feels so.

Darekar also appealed that senior leaders sit together and resolve the Mahayuti's questions instead of airing them before the media. He said a mechanism exists in the alliance for coordination, so public exchanges of allegations are not right.

He also asked that Shinde is not in the opposition, so why should he need to be afraid. He said leaders of the alliance should work in coordination with one another.

All eyes are now on what Ramdas Kadam says in response, and on what emerges from the investigation into the alleged audio clip. Political circles are waiting for both.