Distribution of T-shirts containing images of chief minister Narendra Modi and Lord Krishna during Janmashtami in Surat on Tuesday, kicked up a political storm in the state leading to a bitter war of words between Modi and his rivals.

Ganesh Sawant, a close associate of Surat BJP leader CR Patil and owner of the local channel “Eye Witness” in Surat distributed T-Shirts to members of Janmashtami groups with an image of chief minister Narendra Modi and Lord Krishna. C R Patil is a close aide of Narendra Modi, who has locked horns with Surat heavyweight and former Union minister Kashiram Rana for political dominance in the district.

Sawant claimed that the T-shirts were donated by a private sponsor, who had financed them on the condition that it will bear the image of Narendra Modi.

C R Patil told Deccan Herald that the image of Modi did not have the crown and the Sudarshan chakra as had been shown in a poster recently and had no intention to spite Keshubhai. At the root of the row are posters and mementoes depicting chief minister Narendra Modi as Lord Krishna and his rival and senior BJP leader Keshubhai Patel and rebels as Kauravas that had been displayed recently. The poster had angered Patel and his supporters that include suspended BJP MLAs and leaders.

Suspended BJP MLAs had strongly objected to this “debase” politics against a leader of stature like Keshubhai Patel and had called for action.