After ‘spitting row’, Sanjay Raut, Ajit Pawar lock horns in new MVA faceoff

The NCP’s Maharashtra unit criticised Sanjay Raut’s remarks saying that they ‘were not good for the health of the Maha Vikas Aghadi’

The state unit of the NCP said that instead of targeting BJP, MVA leaders are attacking their own house. (File)

Listen to this article

00:00

1x 1.5x 1.8x

Even as Maharashtra’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance partners are trying to firm up their unity ahead of the elections next year, the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Sanjay Raut and Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) Ajit Pawar indirectly attacked each other on Saturday, triggering a war of words that threatens to sour their relations.

It all began on Friday with a ‘spitting incident’. During his daily press conference in Mumbai, Raut was asked about Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s son Shrikant’s jibe against Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. Shrikant, an MP from Kalyan, had criticised Thackeray, saying that he might be touring abroad as he could not tolerate the Mumbai heat. Raut heard the question and then asked, “Who is saying this?”. When a journalist named Shrikant Shinde, Raut spat on the ground. The incident was caught on camera.

Speaking to reporters in Pune on Saturday, Ajit Pawar said, “Everyone should adopt restraint. We have a culture, a tradition and history… Yashwantrao Chavan has shown us how a cultured Maharashtra can make its contribution… I have heard that Sanjay Raut was suffering from some ailment and therefore had to spit…”

Raut immediately hit back at Ajit Pawar, referencing a controversial remark he made in 2013. “It is better to spit than urinate in the dam,” Raut said.

In April 2013, referring to the hunger strike by a drought-affected farmer at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, Ajit Pawar, speaking in Indapur taluka, had said, “He has been on fast for the last 55 days. (But) If there is no water in the dam, how can we release it? Should we urinate into it? If there is no water to drink, even urinating is not possible.” Pawar had later apologised for his remarks.

Also read | What lies ahead for MVA? An LS bypoll holds some clues

Taunting Ajit Pawar, whose growing proximity to BJP has unnerved the NCP rank and file, Raut said, “We know what we have suffered. After suffering so much, our feet are firmly planted on the ground. I am standing strongly with my party…We are not thinking of changing the party…Just because we are facing trouble does not mean we should join hands with a party like BJP.”

In response to Raut, Ajit Pawar said, “If he (Raut) says anything, it does not cause a dent in us…They are big people. We respect them, what they speak is their right.”

Story continues below this ad

When contacted, Raut said, “The topic has ended for me…”

The state unit of the NCP said that instead of targeting BJP, MVA leaders are attacking their own house. “This kind of verbal war is uncalled for. MVA leaders should target BJP and not taunt our own leaders. Our leader Ajit Pawar has spoken rightly. He has called for adopting restraint and maintaining decency and decorum in public life. These kinds of remarks are not good for the health of MVA when we are trying to unitedly fight the BJP,” said Mahesh Tapase, spokesperson of NCP.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories