Mumbai, July 19 -- A heated political row has erupted after senior Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Prakash Mahajan issued a direct challenge to BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, daring him to a face-off in response to Dubey's controversial remarks about Marathi people.

"Raj Thackeray is our leader. I am his soldier - and I've gone one step ahead," Mahajan said, addressing Dubey in Hindi to ensure the message was understood clearly. "Nishikant Dubey ji, the day is yours, the battleground is yours, the time is yours - just tell me where to come. The world will witness who defeats whom," said MNS leader Mahajan while throwing a challenge to Dubey.

Mahajan expressed deep outrage over Dubey's earlier statement allegedly threatening to "thrash M...