Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray asks Sharad Pawar not to 'bully' him

Thane, April 20:

President

on Sunday night came down heavily on NCP chief

and asked him to stop "bullying" him or else he will pay him back in the same coin. "You can bully the people and those who are hapless, or who can be easily crushed. But you cannot try the same with me," he said, going hammer and tongs at the Maratha strongman at an

rally here.

Uddhav was apparently referring to recent comments of Pawar, who said the Sena leader has not fought even an election, while he had contested 14 elections and won each time. Addressing a rally in support of party Lok Sabha nominees Rajan Vichare (Thane) and Srikant Shinde (Kalyan), Sena chief said he may not have contested elections, but is capable of giving a tough fight to Pawar. "Even when I am not elected I can give a tough fight to Pawar."

Thackeray was upset with Pawar's remark that he had never fought an election

Devoting most part of his speech in criticising Pawar, Uddhav said the Union Agriculture Minister has done nothing except "ruining" the country and assembling leaders who have left the Shiv Sena. The Sena leader reminded the former CM that even he had split from Congress and formed his party. The Sena President slammed the Congress rule in the country, saying the party had done nothing more than encouraging and protecting the corrupt.

Uddhav asked the voters not to elect "wrong persons" this time and instead support candidates of the "Mahayuti" (Sena-BJP-led alliance). "It is after a long time we have got the right face in Narendra Modi for the candidature of Prime Minister. This is the time to get him elected else you will miss the bus and go back to the days of suffering." Uddhav referred to a speech made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Mumbai today and said his certain remarks were objectionable and meant to create enmity among citizens.

PTI