Kept Under "Watch" By Uddhav Thackeray, Says Congress's Nana Patole

Uddhav Thackeray and Ajit Pawar "receive reports about everything. They even know what I am doing. The CM and Deputy CM are keeping a watch on me," said Nana Patole.

The rift between the partners of Maharashtra's ruling alliance became evident again today with state Congress chief Nana Patole accusing Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and his deputy, Nationalist Congress Party's Ajit Pawar, of "keeping watch" on him. This is because the Congress "is gaining strength the on ground and hence the NCP and Shiv Sena are scared," said Mr Patole, who earlier levelled phone-tapping allegations against the BJP-led government headed by Devendra Fadnavis.At a press conference today, Mr Patole said the NCP and Shiv Sena are holding the posts of the Chief Minister and the Home Minister in the state government. "They receive reports about everything. Who is protesting where, everything needs to be updated. They even know what I am doing. The CM and Deputy CM are keeping a watch on me," added the leader who had joined the Congress from the BJP. In June, Mr Patole had set off a rift in the alliance, declaring that it was a temporary one. "We formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in 2019 for five years to stop the BJP. This is a not a permanent fixture. Every party has the right to strengthen its organisation and the Congress has always given priority to providing relief to COVID-19 affected people by making available blood, oxygen and plasma at various places," Mr Patole had said.