Uddhav Thackeray stated a dip in Ganga will not absolve sin of betraying Maharashtra, taking a dig at Eknath Shinde, Maharashtra's Deputy CM. Shinde criticised Thackeray for not attending Maha Kumbh, implying that Thackeray was reluctant to identify as Hindu. Thackeray also took veiled dig at BJP, claiming that "neo-Hindutvawadis" don't need to educate his party about Lord Ram's significance.