Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut launched a scathing attack on Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde on Sunday for questioning Uddhav Thackeray’s absence from the recently concluded Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. Raut not only dismissed Shinde’s remarks but also turned the tables, questioning whether RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat or even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attended previous Kumbh fairs before coming to power.
Taking a dig at Shinde, Raut remarked that BJP should train him on how to ask questions, adding that Shinde’s missteps are exposing the BJP more than Uddhav Thackeray. He also pointed out that past RSS chiefs, Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, and even BJP stalwarts never made it a point to visit Kumbh Mela, questioning why Thackeray was being targeted.
Raut further intensified his attack by alleging that Shinde secretly met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Pune on February 22 at 4 AM to complain about Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. According to Raut, Shinde expressed dissatisfaction over his diminishing influence in the government and hinted at merging the ‘robbed’ Shiv Sena into the BJP to reclaim his position as CM.
When asked about the meeting, Raut dared Shinde to publicly deny it, stating that even Fadnavis was aware of the complaints made against him.
With the Maharashtra budget session set to begin, Raut also revealed that Shiv Sena (UBT) will stake its claim for the Leader of Opposition (LoP) post, asserting that constitutional provisions do not permit the House to function without one.
As political tensions escalate in Maharashtra, Raut’s explosive claims have added fresh fuel to the already simmering rivalry between the Shinde-Fadnavis government and Uddhav Thackeray’s faction.
