Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a veiled jibe at Nationalist Congress Party founder Sharad Pawar alluded to his age and spoke about the "sentimental appeal of a last election".
The Sharad Pawar faction hit back, claiming the remarks were inhuman, and accused Ajit Pawar of "praying for the death" of his uncle.
Ajit Pawar split the NCP in July last year and joined the Eknath Shinde government with eight MLAs. He has routinely justified his revolt by saying that the elders - a reference to octogenarian Sharad Pawar - should have given way to the next generation.
Attacking Sharad Pawar, 83, without taking his name, the Deputy Chief Minister said, "I do not know when some people are going to stop. There might be a sentimental appeal that this would be the last election. Do not know which will be the last election." He was speaking at a gathering in Maharashtra's Baramati.
Hitting back, MLA Jitendra Awhad from Sharad Pawar's faction claimed Ajit Pawar "crossed all limits of decency" with his remarks.
"Ajit Pawar must think about his inhuman comments in which he allegedly prayed for the death of Sharad Pawar. Maharashtra now knows what kind of a man Ajit Pawar is," Mr Awhad said.
Sharad Pawar's contribution to Maharashtra will stay on forever, he added.
Sharad Pawar has remained undefeated in Assembly and Lok Sabha polls since the late 1960s and is currently a Rajya Sabha member.
Ajit Pawar spoke about his faction's Lok Sabha plans at the gathering.
"You listened to a senior for so many years. Now listen to me and vote for the Lok Sabha candidate I am going to field. I can then tell PM Modi that people have voted for my candidate. Do not forget who came to help when you were in trouble," he said.
The Baramati MLA also told the gathering, "If you want to do good work, you must be ready to accept some criticism for it."
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
Dangers On Duty: Stopping Violence Against Doctors
"Not Appropriate For Me...": Praful Patel On Ajit Pawar's 'Admission' On Wife "Made A Mistake": Ajit Pawar On Fielding Wife Against Cousin In 2024 Lok Sabha Polls Sharad Pawar Puts Maratha Quota Ball In Eknath Shinde, Centre's Court 150 mg Semen In Kolkata Doctor's Body, Suspect Gang-Rape: Parents To Court Starbucks' Indian-Origin CEO, Recently Fired, Never Worked Past 6 pm Vandalism At Kolkata Hospital Where Doctor Was Raped, Tear Gas Fired 1.4 Million Afghan Girls Banned From Schools Since Taliban Return To Power US Judge Says "Monopolist" Google Can't Avoid App Store Reforms NASA To Decide Stranded Starliner Astronauts' Route Home By End Of Month Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.