Maharashtra Congress chief compares BJP to ‘dog’: Time to show its place

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole stoked a controversy by comparing the BJP to a dog and asserted that the party should be “shown its place” over its alleged mistreatment of the OBC community. Addressing a rally in Akola, Patole attacked the BJP for bringing down the Maha Vikas Aghadi government and singled out Devendra Fadnavis, saying that the former Chief Minister considers himself “God”.
Accusing the BJP of disrespecting the OBC community, Patole said, “Will the OBC people of Akola district vote for the BJP who are calling you dogs? It is time to make the BJP a dog now.”
“The time has come to remove the BJP from Maharashtra. This party came to power with a bundle of lies and now the time has come to show its place. BJP people consider themselves God and Vishwaguru. In Maharashtra, Fadnavis considers himself God,” Patole said.
Hitting out at the Maharashtra Congress chief, BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders were disappointed and frustrated. “They are calling the BJP people dogs now. They can see defeat and hence are giving these speeches in despair,” he said.
The lead-up to the November 20 Maharashtra polls has been marked by political tensions and name-calling as the two major alliances, the Mahayuti and the MVA, gear up for a fierce contest.
Earlier this month, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant referred to Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC as “imported maal”.
Criticising her defection to the Eknath Shinde-led Sena from BJP, Sawant said, “Look at her condition. She was in the BJP all her life, and now she went to another party. Imported ‘maal’ doesn’t work here, only original ‘maal’ does.”
Sawant later apologised for his sexist remark after it sparked outrage and Shaina NC lodged a complaint against the MP.