On Tuesday amid reports of the growing rift in the ruling Maha Vikas Anghadi (MVA) alliance, Congress chief Nana Patole had said, "People will see, Congress in Maharashtra will become the number one party in the state. Many people are miffed over the party's growing influence over the state."Patole had also alleged that his phone was being tapped by the Maharashtra government and that 'some people' were stabbing Congress in the back.
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has reacted to Patole's statements. Athawale said,"Nana Patole har vishay par maar rahe badai, aur isiliye Maha Vikas Aghadi mai ho rhi hai ladai. They have to resolve the dispute if they want to run the government or Congress should pull back their support."
Congress leaders on Wednesday met National Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar to assure him that Patole's statements that allegedly angered leaders in the alliance, would not be repeated.
NCP sources informed that a few MVA leaders were angry with recent statements made by Patole about his party's 'growing influence in Maharashtra'.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Chouhan, state party in-charge HK Patil and Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat met Pawar at his residence in Silver Oak and assured him that such rhetoric will not happen again," reported ANI.