MNS Chief Accuses Political Rivals of Exploiting Maratha Quota Stir

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has claimed that Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray are using the Maratha quota agitation to incite riots ahead of state elections, particularly in Marathwada. He accused them of leveraging caste politics and alleged that the anti-Modi narrative affected BJP's prospects in the previous Lok Sabha elections.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday accused political rivals Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray of exploiting the ongoing Maratha quota agitation to incite riots ahead of the state assembly elections, particularly in the Marathwada region.

During a news conference in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Thackeray claimed that Pawar and Uddhav are using the Manoj Jarange-led quota agitation as a cover for their caste-based political maneuvers. He argued that their actions are creating fractures in the state's social fabric.

Thackeray's remarks came on the last day of his Marathwada tour, following an incident where individuals suspected to be Shiv Sena (UBT) workers threw betel nuts at his convoy in Beed city. Four workers were detained in connection with the episode.

(With inputs from agencies.)