Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Friday launched a scathing attack on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, alleging that Shinde is so desperate to become Chief Minister that he offered to merge his faction of the Shiv Sena with the BJP during a recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi.
Addressing reporters, Raut claimed that Shinde told Shah he was unable to function effectively because of constant interference by current CM Devendra Fadnavis, and that the BJP leader was initiating inquiries against Shiv Sena MLAs. “Shinde reportedly told Shah that efforts to unite Marathi voices—like the recent joint rally by Uddhav and Raj Thackeray—were harming his party, and that he could stop this if made CM,” Raut alleged.
According to Raut, when Shah reminded Shinde that the BJP would continue to hold the CM post, Shinde offered to merge his faction of the Shiv Sena with the BJP in return for the top position. “That’s how desperate he is,” Raut said.
The remarks were quickly dismissed by Shiv Sena (Shinde) spokesperson Sheetal Mhatre, who said, “Raut has a habit of making wild, baseless statements. Even his own party doesn’t take him seriously.”
Raut also tied the episode to the recent rollback of controversial GRs on the three-language policy in schools, a move celebrated by the Thackeray cousins in a rare joint rally titled “Awaaz Marathicha.” He suggested that the growing unity of Marathi voices threatens Shinde’s political standing.
This isn’t the first time Raut has made controversial claims about Shinde’s camp. Earlier, he alleged bizarre rituals involving buffalo horns were conducted at the CM’s official residence to secure power. He also speculated that Shiv Sena minister Uday Samant might be elevated as a third deputy CM.
Despite repeated predictions by Raut that the Shinde-Fadnavis government would collapse, the Mahayuti alliance returned to power with a thumping majority, further weakening UBT’s position in the state’s power dynamics.
