NCP

In the video-clip, Ports & Mines Minister Dada Dagadu Bhuse, attired in his trademark white with a snowy beard, is seen and heard rebuking two unidentified persons, giving them punches, abusing them in the lowest language.

The caller rang up from an unknown location to the Pawars' Silver Oaks home and threatened in Hindi that he would come to Mumbai and shoot him with a country-made pistol. As precaution, the NCP leader's security detail has lodged a complaint with Gamdevi Police Station which has started investigations.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Shiv Sena (UBT), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena staged full-throated demonstrations in different parts of the state while the Congress has demanded Koshyari's recall though the ruling alliance Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena raised objections and the Bharatiya Janata Party defended him.

This hitherto "unknown face" of the 82-year-old veteran politician Pawar was "unmasked" by the state BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule during a media interaction, creating political ripples. "Sharad Pawar is like a 'bhondu baba' (fake godman). He resorts to 'black magic' on anyone who comes in his sphere of influence. In fact, his entire party also does this," claimed Bawankule.

In her first reaction to the "abuse" - which forced even the ruling Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena (BSS) to apologise - Sule on Tuesday said that such language was not expected from someone who is in power and it is against Maharashtra's culture and traditions of respect to women.

Rattled by the possible fallout of the agitation, with Shiv Sena-UBT, Congress leaders as also Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) slamming the government, Shinde is understood to have called up Sattar and given him an earful. Political sources said that the CM even ordered Sattar to call up and personally apologise to Sule and end the matter, as some BJP leaders also commented on the issue.

A senior Sena-UBT leader, preferring anonymity, told IANS that party chief Uddhav Thackeray is unlikely to take part in the BJY owing to the current political situation here, but will depute a high-level team of leaders to express solidarity with Gandhi and the Congress.

He dismissed the news reports - which went on to suggest internal strife within the party at its two-day national conclave - as absolutely misleading and speculative. "I had been sitting on the stage since morning. It was natural for any human being to feel the urge to go to the washroom. But the media has blown it out of proportions. Can't I even step into the washroom?" an annoyed Ajit Pawar said.

Speaking at the NCP national council meeting here, Pawar -- who on Saturday was re-elected unanimously the party president -- told the workers to be prepared for a "big fight". Pawar said that Chhatrapati Shivaji never bowed in front of Delhi rulers and the NCP follows that path which has established itself as a progressive national party. His remarks came as many Opposition leaders are under the spotlight of probe agencies, while NCP leaders such as Nawab Malik and Anil Deshmukh are under judicial custody.

Praful Patel said Pawar was going to play an important role to bring many forces together. He said, "Sharad Pawar was never and will never be the PM face. He only speaks about the real issues of this country. Some workers of the party expressed their views but Sharad Pawar is not aspiring for the PM post. "We know our limitations and he is not the opposition's face but will play an important role." Patel said the NCP was going to play a key role in the upcoming General Elections. But the party's stand was clear that there was a need for the Opposition to unite.