Mumbai, June 19: A significant crisis has emerged within the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray, coinciding with the party’s 60th anniversary. This marks the second major split in four years, as six Lok Sabha MPs have decided to join the faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Following this development, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP and chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut launched a sharp attack on the rebel MPs. He alleged that a financial settlement was made late at night to pacify them after a dispute over cabinet positions.
Raut stated, “They were standing in the market to sell themselves.” He accused the rebel MPs of merely auctioning their loyalty.
“I do not consider this a division. A person leaves a party when they are connected to an ideology. When someone stands in the market to sell themselves and someone buys them, that is bargaining, not division. Our six members were in the market two days ago, they tagged a price on themselves and got sold. They did not leave the party for any great revolutionary thought,” he said.
Raut specifically targeted rebel MPs Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchoure, and Omprakash Rajenimbalkar, who did not attend an important parliamentary meeting in Delhi, despite the party’s strict ‘three-line whip.’
Explaining why the six MPs have yet to return to Mumbai, Raut alleged that infighting over ministerial positions in the central government had begun.
According to Raut, a midnight deal was struck to resolve this chaos. He claimed that the remaining five disgruntled MPs were promised an additional 25 crore rupees each over the next year, provided they do not create any public disturbances. Raut accused them of hiding somewhere under heavy police protection.
“If you have committed no crime or sin, why do you need such a large police force? Is the Maharashtra Home Department only for the protection of traitors while crimes against women are on the rise?” he questioned.
Raut also took a jab at a senior BJP leader who claimed that the MPs left the party because Uddhav Thackeray allied with Congress. He remarked that BJP leaders behave like supporting characters in a drama. When these six MPs won elections, they received help from Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and Congress workers. “Did you not know that Congress was part of the alliance then? Why this sudden hatred for Congress?” he asked.
Raut challenged the BJP’s nationalist credentials, questioning if any of their leaders had sacrificed their lives for India’s freedom.
He further threatened that if agencies like ED and CBI were halted for just half an hour, the BJP would split into seven pieces, with Girish Mahajan being the first to leave the party.
Separate large events are being organized by both factions for the Shiv Sena anniversary. Meanwhile, the Thackeray faction has initiated disciplinary action and issued show-cause notices to the absent six MPs regarding the cancellation of their parliamentary membership.
Raut urged, “If you have any shame left, resign from your MP position. You won on our party’s election symbol because Uddhav Thackeray and the common party workers bled and sweated for you. You swore false oaths in the names of your parents, Sai Baba, and Devi Bhavani. Now show some courage, resign, and face the public openly.”
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