Devendra Fadnavis has accused the Shiv Sena of corruption in ruling Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis wore a fierce look and launched a scathing attack on the Shiv Sena at his final rally before the high-stakes Mumbai civic elections on Tuesday.
"Like Narshimha (an avatar of Hindu deity Vishu with head of a lion), I will rip apart corruption," he said, insinuating the Shiv Sena, who controls the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, of using it for personal gains.
BMC is the most cash rich corporation in the country with an annual budget of 37,000 crores. For over two decades, the Shiv Sena has dominated it with four straight wins.
"I do not run my political party for one municipal corporation," Mr Fadnavis said in Thane, refuting Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackarey's charge that the BJP is trying usurp control of the BMC for financial gains.
"I am against any kind of corruption and I will continue my battle. The kind of attack Shiv Sena is making is nothing but a cover fire. They are simply avoiding tough questions," Mr Fadnavis said.
Putting up a dramatic performance at the rally, Mr Fadnavis also mimicked Mr Thackeray and called his speeches full of "medieval" content.
Dodging charges of corruption levelled by the BJP, its senior partner in the Maharashtra government, Mr Thackarey at a rally in Bandra - barely a few kilometres from Thane - made a counter charge at the Chief Minister. He raked up a 16-year-old probe that levelled accusations of irregularities during Mr Fadnavis's tenure as Mayor of Nagpur.
A political battle between the BJP and the Shiv Sena ahead of the BMC elections has deteriorated the relationship between the parties and the results could also change the course of the state's affairs.