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Indian Express

BJP MLC's ‘father of Sena' remark draws ire of Shinde's party: ‘Apologise within 12 hours'

In a fresh instance of trouble between the ruling Mahayuti allies, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena demanded an apology 'within twelve hours' from BJP MLC Parinay Phuke who mentioned that he was the 'father' of Sena. Phuke made the remarks at a party function held in Bhandara district Monday, where he was speaking about Bhandara District Central Cooperative Bank elections. The Shiv Sena had blamed the BJP leader for its election loss. ' Whenever every student does well the credit goes to his mother or him. But then things don't blame it pushed on the father… I have come to understand that I am the father of Shiv Sena,' Phuke said in Marathi, referring to the Sena's accusations against him. Responding to the remarks, the Shinde Sena has demanded an apology from Phuke. 'We will not tolerate such irresponsible statements from BJP's Parnay Phuke and he should apologise within twelve hours. Or else we will be forced to respond in Shiv Sena style,' Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Kumbhalkar said. Earlier, a senior Shinde Sena minister said, ' The Shiv Sena has only one father Bal Thackeray. Nobody can take his place. And certainly not Phuke. Therefore, BJP leadership should reprimand their members who make such irresponsible statements and hurt the sentiments of Sena.' Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that Phuke's remark was being distorted and misunderstood. 'Phuke's remark should be seen in the right context. He did not mean it,' Fadnavis told mediapersons in Mumbai. This is the second instance of a BJP legislator landing in controversy in a span of few days. On Sunday, a video surfaced in which Minister of State Meghana Bordikar from BJP was seen threatening to slap a gram sevak. Explaining her action, Bordikar, the two-time MLA from Jintur, said, 'I expressed my anger at a function where zilla parishad officials were present. One particular gram sevak was not taking the welfare schemes being implemented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to the poor people. He was creating hurdles.' 'I lost my cool because the women labourers had complained to me about the harassment from the gram sevak,' she had said.