Jarange Patil tells Ramdas Kadam to ask Fadnavis who leaked the audio clip

Maratha reservation leader Manoj Jarange Patil has hit back directly at Shinde faction leader Ramdas Kadam at a press conference. "We are asking you how you came to know the date and time of that audio clip. Go and ask Fadnavis how the clip went viral. Do not threaten the media," Jarange Patil said.

Kadam had made serious allegations over the issue of alleged irregularities involving crores of rupees. In reply, Jarange raised serious questions about Kadam's mental state and political role, and attacked him sharply.

First, what Kadam had said. Two days earlier, Manoj Jarange Patil had accused Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of corruption worth Rs 500 crore. The very next day, an audio clip related to an exchange of money went viral. Ramdas Kadam then held a press conference and made serious allegations against the BJP. He asked from whom the BJP had taken a contract to politically finish off and defame Eknath Shinde. He also demanded a high-level inquiry into the entire matter.

Kadam further said that Jarange Patil dines with BJP leader Prasad Lad. Kadam also shared at the press conference photographs of Jarange Patil's meeting with Prasad Lad. He claimed that Jarange Patil and BJP leaders were therefore joining hands to plot against Eknath Shinde.

Jarange also replied to those criticising the meal with Lad. "If Prasad Lad comes to dine, why do you get a stomach ache? Go as deep as you want to go and look," he said. He also taunted that Kadam had started behaving like a petty person.

Jarange also took on Kadam's son, MLA Yogesh Kadam. "First see whose contract your old man has taken. The contract is in your own house. Tell us the name; we ourselves can find out who he is," he challenged.

Jarange said Ramdas Kadam is a "sadesati", a bad omen, for Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. "Does Ramdas Kadam have the brains to speak on his own? He is a schemer. He has collected a great deal so that Shinde saheb is defamed. This man has set out to finish off the Shiv Sena," he also said.

Ending with a sarcastic jibe, Jarange said, "Ramdas Kadam has gone mad, take him to a hospital as soon as possible! Sanjay Raut is better than that; he comes before the media once in the morning and ends the matter."