Mumbai/IBNS, Feb. 21 -- Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Friday warned to "not take me lightly" in response to death threat emails but the remark is seen in a larger context amid reports of a rift between the Shiv Sena leader and his ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party that leads the state government.

Asked about the threat where police received emails warning of bombs in Shinde's car, the former CM said: "Threats came before too... attempts were made too, but I am not afraid."

It was his next set of comments that raised eyebrows.

It was his 2022 rebellion that split the Shiv Sena and brought down Uddhav Thackeray's Congress, NCP-backed government in Maharashtra.

The warning, Shinde said, was for "those who want to underst...