Ahmednagar:
Since last night, when Raj Thackeray's convoy was pelted with stones, the politician's workers have been exacting revenge against Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party or NCP.
"We believe in reciprocating in the manner we are dealt with. They tried to block the car of our leader Raj Thackeray. It seems they have forgotten they have to stay here. They should all remember their homes are in Mumbai," said Ram Kadam, a leader of Mr Thackeray's party, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
MNS General Secretary Akhilesh Chaubey however clarified that his party did not believe in "an eye for an eye."
"If they feel there is something wrong in the statements made by Raj Thackeray or our leaders let them initiate legal action. Why are they coming out on the roads? We are not living in a jungle raj. It is clear that Raj Thackeray's successful rallies are frustrating the NCP, "Mr Chaubey said.
This morning, in Mumbai, members of Mr Thackeray's party forced their way into the NCP office at the headquarters of the municipal corporation and vandalized property.
Stones were hurled at Mr Thackeray's convoy as he passed through Ahmednagar in Western Maharashtra last night. NCP men said they were retaliating for Mr Thackeray's public criticism of their leaders as he tours areas that are loyal to the NCP.
Since then, workers from the two parties have attacked each other in four cities- Ahmednagar, Thane, Pune and Mumbai. Public and private vehicles have been damaged.
Maharashtra, which is governed by an alliance of the NCP and the Congress, votes next year, along with the national elections, for its new state government. In rallies, Mr Thackeray has been attacking Sharad Pawar, his nephew Ajit Pawar, and RR Patil of their party, who is the Home Minister of Maharashtra.
He has criticized ministries that are headed by the NCP, like the Irrigation Department, for failing to protect farmers from the severest drought in decades.