Sanjay Raut has become Sharad Pawar's spokesperson: Congress's Nana Patole

The war of words between allies -- Shiv Sena and Congress -- in Maharashtra got murkier on Saturday after state Congress chief Nana Patole took a dig at Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut over the latter's suggestion to make Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar the chief of United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

Speaking to reporters in Delhi earlier this week, Sanjay Raut had made the suggestion of strengthening UPA by making Sharad Pawar the chief of the alliance.

Nana Patole's reaction

Reacting to the statement, Nana Patole said, "Sanjay Raut has become the spokesperson of Sharad Pawar. Shiv Sena is not part of the UPA, and hence they have no right to make such statements."

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), too, jumped into the tussle between the ruling alliance and mocked Shiv Sena. "The 16th player is demanding who the captain of the team should be. The demand by those who are outside the team makes no value," Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.

What Sanjay Raut said

The statements came as a response to the statement by Sanjay Raut who had said, “A leader like Sharad Pawar should be made the chief of UPA if you want to strengthen the opposition in the country. His leadership is acceptable to all.”

“There are several parties in the country who are neither part of NDA, nor UPA, such parties should be brought under the umbrella of UPA, " Raut had said.

The Congress is part of the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra, along with NCP.