"If Fadnavis Had Not Supported Him, Shinde's Life Would Have Been In Danger": Nitesh Rane's Big Claim Amid Kadam's Allegations

MUMBAI / NAGPUR: A big political controversy has erupted in Maharashtra over an audio clip released by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil, with Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam accusing a section of the BJP of conspiring with Jarange to politically "finish" Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and BJP Minister Nitesh Rane now hitting back with his biggest claim yet.

What Jarange alleged: On Thursday, Jarange released a purported audio clip in Jalna, alleging a conspiracy to "silence" him and crush the Maratha reservation agitation. In the alleged conversation, a person claims that Rs 500 crore had already been delivered to Jarange through Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, son of Eknath Shinde. Jarange said the narrative was spread to defame Shinde and his son and to weaken his movement.

What Kadam alleged: On Friday, Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam held a press conference in Mumbai and alleged that Jarange had conspired with the BJP to "finish" a Maratha leader, an apparent reference to Shinde. He claimed the clip is not AI-generated but linked to BJP leaders, and that BJP MLC Pravin Darekar's name also appears in it. He questioned, "Is the BJP afraid of Shinde? Who has taken a contract to finish Shinde?"

Kadam has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and CM Fadnavis demanding a forensic investigation into the clip.

Nitesh Rane's counter-attack: Reacting strongly to Kadam's statement, BJP Minister Nitesh Rane asked whether Kadam was speaking on his own or with Eknath Shinde and Shrikant Shinde's approval.

 "If BJP and Devendra Fadnavis had not supported him during the MVA government, Shinde's life would have been in danger. Uddhav Thackeray had gone to the extent of finishing Shinde. In such a difficult situation, it was BJP and Fadnavis who stood by him," Rane said.

 He added that because BJP and Shiv Sena came together, a Hindutva government was formed in Maharashtra and a leader like Shinde became Chief Minister. Rane urged leaders in the Mahayuti not to fight among themselves and said Kadam should introspect, warning that such statements would only give happiness to the opposition and create a rift in the alliance. He demanded that Shinde clarify his stand on Kadam's remarks.

Fadnavis orders probe: Amid the escalating tension within the ruling Mahayuti, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday ordered a forensic probe into the audio clip. He said in Nagpur that the clip, which purportedly claims Rs 500 crore was delivered through Shrikant Shinde, will be thoroughly investigated using forensic methods.

 "We all have the same question: why have these conversations emerged now, after two and a half years? What exactly are the motives behind their emergence? Who is being targeted? For what purpose?" Fadnavis said.

 He said a delegation from the Shinde-led Shiv Sena had met him seeking a probe, the BJP had also sought one, and even Jarange had demanded an investigation.