Raj Thackeray trains guns on Pawar

In a tactical move, MNS chief Raj Thackeray Friday shifted from Marathi to drought.

At a public rally in Solapur, he launched a scathing attack on the ruling Congress-NCP combine holding it responsible for the drought.

Raj said, "Where has the Rs 70,000 crore allocated for irrigation gone? Drought is not like earthquake. Signs of it were visible for years because of mismanagement of the state administration. Irrigation projects are incomplete, depriving people of the right to irrigate fields and drinking water.

"NCP president Sharad Pawar recently expressed displeasure at lavish weddings hosted by a party minister in times of drought. I agree. But my question to Pawar is, who is responsible for the drought?

The MNS chief said the water resources portfolio was with NCP for more than a decade. "Pawar's nephew Ajit held the reins of the irrigation department," he said.

Raj then turned on deputy CM Ajit Pawar.