A day after a former associate accused activist Manoj Jarange Patil of misleading the Maratha community, another activist has made serious allegations against him. Sangita Wankhede from Pune said NCP founder Sharad Pawar was behind Jarange's quota activism and has been supporting the stir strategically and financially.

Wankhede said in Pune on Thursday that she initially stood by Jarange, but broke ties with him a month ago. “The media didn't know who Jarange was. I trusted him because of his apparent rusticness and frankness. But soon I realised that he did not take anyone in confidence before deciding on the course of action. He would get a daily call that he responded to and talked in confidence. It was Sharad Pawar who called him daily,” she said, adding that the NCP leader also funded Jarange's agitation.