Pune, Jan. 7 -- A remark by BJP minister Ashish Shelar on Tuesday that the party expects its allies to respect Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar has triggered a fresh flashpoint within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, drawing a sharp response from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, which reiterated its commitment to Ambedkarite ideology. CM Devendra Fadnavis sought to defuse tensions, saying that Ajit Pawar had never opposed Savarkar's ideology. "To my knowledge, Ajit Pawar has never opposed Savarkar's thinking, nor is there any reason for him to do so. We are committed to our ideology and will not compromise on it," Fadnavis said. The controversy has brought Savarkar into the high-pitched campaign for the civic elections, adding strain to relations between BJP and NCP, both key allies in the Mahayuti. P4...