NCP MP warns party leader of 'pulling out' his tongue

NCP Lok Sabha member Udayanraje Bhosle, in a veiled threat to his rival in the party Ramraje Nimbalkar, who is Chairman of Maharashtra Legislative Council, has warned his detractor of 'pulling out his tongue' if the tirade against the Bhosle dynasty continues.

This comes at a time when Sharad Pawar-led NCP is trying to expand its reach after the drubbing in Assembly polls.

Udayanraje is the direct descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

"You are the Chairman of the Legislative Council. I am an MP. If you want to speak anything social or political, speak it. If you want to prove who is right before the people, I am ever ready for it," Bhosle said.

"I have never spoken anything against your family. But I am warning you, if you utter anything against this dynasty, I will remove your tongue and put in your hands," he said, after his supporters held a protest march in Satara yesterday against Nimbalkar.

Alleging that Nimbalkar's 'corruption' had ruined NCP in Satara district, Udayanraje said "there is Ram only in his name, but Nathuram in his deeds."

"Sharad Pawar should have removed such corrupt people from the party. He (Nimbalkar) should resign on moral grounds or else his exploits would be exposed during the (legislature) session," Bhosle said.

Alleging that Nimbalkar and his 'cronies' had cornered most of the permit rooms and bars in the region, Udayanraje termed the NCP leader as 'Chairman of Permit Room.' However, Nimbalkar was unavailable for his reaction on Bhosle's comments.

Bhosle has a strong base in Satara and had won the Lok Sabha election last year by over 3.66 lakh votes despite the Narendra Modi wave.

Udayanraje's outburst was prompted by Nimbalkar's strong rebuttal of his recent statement that water from Nira river in Satara was diverted to Pawar's bastion Baramati in Pune district.

"If Udayanraje is so sure of his popularity, he should get elected as an independent and not as NCP candidate," Nimbalkar had said.