"I Challenge Amit Shah": Uddhav Thackeray's Dare On Civic, State Polls

Uddhav Thackeray said, "I challenge Amit Shah -- tell all your chelas (disciples) sitting here to hold the BMC election in a month. And if you have the guts, hold the Assembly elections at the same time"

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray challenged the BJP's chief strategist Amit Shah on elections -- both civic and state assembly -- hours after Sharad Pawar claimed to beat the BJP in panchayat elections on behalf of the Maha Vikas Aghadi. "We also know kushti (wrestling). We will show you who is really power," he said. The former Chief Minister, whose government was toppled with the rebellion of current Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, with instigation from the BJP, also accused Mr Shah of instigating communal polarisation, echoing the comments of Bihar's Tejashwi Yadav.

"I challenge Amit Shah -- tell all your chelas (disciples) sitting here to hold the BMC election in a month. And if you have the guts, hold the Assembly elections at the same time," Mr Thackeray said at a meeting is to take stock of preparations for Mumbai civic polls.

"Amit Shah has asked his party to put the Shiv Sena its place in the Mumbai civic polls. I dare you to try it. Shiv Sena's relationship with the city is unbreakable and we are deeply connected with the day-to-day life of ordinary Mumbaikars," he added.

There was a further challenge for Mr Shah.