Maha: Shinde Minister Challenges Sanjay Raut to Resign from Rajya Sabha and Get Re-elected

Thane foster minister Shambhuraj Desai on Wednesday challenged Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut to resign from the Rajya Sabha and get re-elected, claiming that the undivided Shiv Sena MLAs had voted for him then.

Desai was talking to the media after attending the District Planning Committee meeting here.

His remarks came amid bitter exchanges between the two Shiv Sena factions after former minister Aaditya Thackeray challenged Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to contest against him from Mumbai’s Worli.

Desai said all Shiv Sena MLAs had followed party chief Uddhav Thackeray’s diktat to support Raut, who is now a fierce critic of the Shinde faction.

“He gave us specific instructions on voting for the MP elections, which we followed scrupulously. Let him (Raut) resign and win the Rajya Sabha elections.

The Sena split following a rebellion by Shinde, who joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party to become chief minister. He now leads the Balasahebchi Shiv Sena (BSS), while Uddhav Thackeray heads the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray).

The BSS on Tuesday termed Aditya Thackeray’s remarks challenging Shinde to contest from Worli assembly seat as childish.

On the tussle between the groups over the Shiv Sena’s name and election symbol (bow and arrow), Desai, who belongs to the BSS, said he would abide by it. Election Commission’s decision.

Desai said he would meet the chief minister and try to get more funds for Thane district. He has sought Rs 850 crore for the district in the financial year 2023-24.

He said that the model schools which were successful in Sangli and Satara districts would be replicated in Thane also.

The foster minister said that modular operation theaters would be set up in 10 government hospitals of the district.

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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)