In a sharp political counterattack, Maharashtra Minister and BJP leader Ashish Shelar took a swipe at Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, accusing him of being “terrified” of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Reacting to Thackeray’s recent remarks targeting the senior BJP leader, Shelar said, “We could see fear on the face of Uddhav Thackeray, and he said ‘Amit, Amit Shah, Amit Shah’. There was so much fear in him of Amit Shah that the level of his statements sank to the lowest.”

Escalating his attack, the BJP leader challenged the former Maharashtra Chief Minister to face the upcoming elections without hesitation. “If they have courage, face elections. Why is Uddhav ji so scared of the BJP and Amit Shah?” Shelar questioned.

The heated exchange comes amid growing tension between the BJP-Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) alliance and the Shiv Sena (UBT) ahead of the upcoming civic and Assembly polls in Maharashtra.

While Uddhav Thackeray has consistently accused the BJP of betraying his faction and using “money and power” to destabilize parties, the BJP leaders have countered by portraying Thackeray as politically insecure and desperate to retain relevance.