Political tensions escalated on Thursday after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut launched a scathing attack on Praful Patel, accusing him of betrayal, criminal associations, and opportunism. In a sharp rebuttal, Praful Patel responded, urging Raut to consult Sharad Pawar before questioning his character and suggesting that the criticism stemmed from bitterness and political insecurity.
"Narendra Modi has accused Praful Patel of being Dawood's henchman. ED operations were carried out against him due to his dealings with Dawood's henchman Iqbal Mirchi. His properties were seized. No politician has been accused of this in recent times. The country's biggest enemy is in Pakistan. Praful Patel has relations with him. He also joined Dawood's party. He joined BJP from Dawood's party. Why did he join BJP to save his wealth? Because he was afraid of going to jail, he joined BJP along with all of Dawood's relations to protect him. BJP took Dawood's henchman into its party. All these are brokers. First, look at your color, what color exactly is yours? You have got the green color of Dawood Ibrahim. I tell Praful Patel, don't fall for my call. Yesterday, BJP people were being shown as scoundrels. These are enemies of Maharashtra. If I take out their entire history, they will have to leave Maharashtra. What level are these people to sit next to Devendraji? Fadnavis's." Sanjay Raut said this.
In response to the tirade, Praful Patel dismissed Raut’s comments as politically motivated and rooted in resentment. Offering a measured yet pointed rebuttal, he said:
"It would have been better if you had sought information from Pawar Saheb before making statements about my character and past. Grapes are sour..."
Patel’s statement, though brief, was laced with sarcasm and appeared to allude to Raut’s frustration over recent political shifts and alliances.
The war of words between Raut and Patel reflects the growing friction between factions of the India Alliance and the BJP-led NDA, especially after key realignments within Maharashtra’s political landscape. With accusations flying and tempers rising, the state’s political scene appears increasingly volatile as leaders position themselves ahead of future electoral battles.