Amid the ongoing National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) row, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Monday reportedly made a phone call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the plight of students.

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The phone call to PM Modi comes at a time when allies Shiv Sena and BJP have been exchanging barbs and levelling serious allegations at each other.

The MNS chief reportedly called up Modi a day after parents of students who had prepared for the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MCET) met him to discuss the issue.

"PM Modi not only made time to take the call, but also gave the MNS chief a patient hearing and a positive response," former MNS legislator Nitin Sardesai told Mumbai Mirror.

During the conversation, Raj Thackeray reportedly told Modi that 'thousands of students aspiring to enter medical colleges will be forced to kill themselves, just like farmers in the state, if he did not step in immediately.' He also said to have expressed concern about the state education boards becoming redundant. 

Ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections that are due in early 2017, the communication between Raj Thackeray and PM Modi is being seen as a warning bell for Shiv Sena.

Recently, BJP MP Kirit Somaiya alleged that there was corruption in every civic department and that the BMC was in the 'grip of a powerful mafia' being controlled by a 'sahib from Bandra and his PA'. Following this, the Shiv Sena had come down heavily on him by accusing him of being involved in an SRA scam.

MNS could be BJP's option for the country's richest civic body polls, that has been run by saffron allies for over two decades now.