Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray
Maharashtra politician Raj Thackeray has reportedly poked fun at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he had effusively backed for the country's top post earlier this year.
Speaking at a student's meet organized by his Maharashtra Navnirman Sena or MNS, Mr Thackeray referred to a joke in which a woman snaps at her husband for making tall promises by saying, "
Chal Jhootey, Modi Kahin Ka!"
The derisive remarks contrast sharply with the MNS chief's words in support of Mr Modi just four months ago: "We will support Narendra Modi for prime minister. All my MPs will support him as we want a strong PM."
The BJP snubbed the MNS chief after a sharp reaction from its alliance partner Shiv Sena, led by Mr Thackeray's estranged cousin Uddhav Thackeray. Mr Modi also called the Sena chief to assure him that his party would stand by its oldest ally.
The MNS, which was expected to eat into the Sena's votes, failed to win a single seat in the national election that saw the BJP-Sena combine winning 42 of Maharashtra's 48 seats.
After the polls, Mr Thackeray said he would contest the Maharashtra election, due by October, and may even run for Chief Minister.
Raj Thackeray broke away from the Sena in 2005 to form his own party.