Humza Yousaf has insisted he would not allow the SNP to "lurch to the right" as he clashed with Kate Forbes during a stormy TV debate.
In extraordinary scenes, the health secretary was forced to defend his record in government from his own Cabinet colleague at the highest profile event so far in the race to succeed Nicola Sturgeon.
Forbes, the finance secretary, used her chance to cross examine Yousaf during a live debate on STV to go on the attack and question his competence to lead the country.
She said: "Humza, you've had a number of jobs in government.
"When you were transport minister the trains were never on time. When you were justice minister, the police were strained to breaking point.
"And now as health minister, we've got record high waiting times. What makes you think you can do a better job as First Minister?"
Yousaf fired back that he was happy to be branded a "continuity candidate" after he won the backing of most senior members of the SNP.
He also took a swipe at Forbes' social views after she previously said she would have voted against single-sex marriage legislation if she had been an MSP at the time.
The finance secretary lost the support of several MSPs and MPs as a result and has since tried to reinvent herself as the pro-business candidate in the leadership race.
Yousaf said: "What I would say to you about continuity is I'm my own man. I'll bring my own leadership style if and when I'm First Minister of Scotland.
"If continuity means continuing 15 years of winning elections, 15 years of growing support for independence, if it's 15 years of being the national government of Scotland, then I think that continuity is no bad thing.
"If change means lurching to the right, Kate, if it means rolling back progressive values, I don't think that's an option."
The candidates had travelled to the STV studios on the south bank of the River Clyde for what was the first televised event of the SNP leadership contest.
The debate was chaired by Colin Mackay, the broadcaster's political editor, and was filmed live without a studio audience.
The stakes were high for all candidates as recent polling suggested up to a third of SNP members remain undecided on who to vote for.
Forbes made an early dig at Yousaf after his campaign won the backing of most of the party's senior members.
In her opening statement, she claimed that voting for "more of the same" would be an "acceptance of mediocrity".
She added: "We can do better. My government will focus on the people’s priorities.
"I can reach across the political divide and turn a divided nation into a settled majority for Yes."
Yousaf meanwhile pledged to grow support for Scottish independence “to new heights”.
He said: "I will build support for independence to new heights, where the will of the Scottish people can no longer be denied.
"I will build a wellbeing economy with people at the heart, so we can ensure that every child in Scotland, like my girls, has the best start in life, rich with opportunities no matter your background.
"I am the only candidate who will stand up to Westminster’s power grab and defend our democracy, maintain a pro-independence majority in parliament, and I’m the only candidate who is unequivocally committed to protecting and advancing the rights of all those we serve.
"As first minister, at every turn, I will serve you the people of Scotland."
Ash Regan, the third candidate to become First Minister, was criticised by both Yousaf and Forbes after she insisted Scotland could achieve independence by the SNP winning a simple majority of votes at a general election.
Forbes said independence would only happen when a majority of Scots had been persuaded to leave the UK, while Yousaf stressed the need to “build popular support”.
He added: "Consistent majority support for independence will mean those political obstacles put up by Westminster, they will be overcome."
But Regan accused her rivals of "going cap in hand to Westminster". She added: "This hasn’t worked so far, why should it work now?”
Yousaf hit back, telling her a majority of votes in an election would not bring Westminster to the table.
"There is no common decency with the UK Government, if we get 50 per cent plus one they will somehow come round the negotiating table,” he said.
"We are talking about a government in the UK that literally sends refugees on planes to Rwanda. They are not going to sit down with us just because we win an election."
The final decision on who becomes SNP leader will be left up to the party's estimated 100,000 members.
Voting will be largely be conducted online and will be overseen by an independent electoral services company.
Members can cast their ballots from midday on March 13 with voting ending on midday on March 27.
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