Last Update: February 21, 2023, 15:32 IST
Sanjay Raut said that party chief Uddhav Thackeray would soon tour the entire state. (twitter file)
“Whatever is happening in Maharashtra is nothing but a masala film whose script was written after the 2019 elections. He is now getting direction from Delhi,” Sanjay Raut told News18 in an exclusive interview
The Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena is waging a court battle against it after it lost the Shiv Sena name and party symbol to Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde’s camp. Election “Partisan decision” of the Commission in the Supreme Court.
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As News18 exclusively spoke to Shiv Sena MP and executive editor of party mouthpiece Saamana Sanjay Raut on his future plans, he called it a “masala film being directed from Delhi”.
‘Masala film script written after 2019, being directed from Delhi’
Raut feels that the political situation unfolding in Maharashtra is part of a larger conspiracy that started after the 2019 elections. “Whatever is happening in Maharashtra is nothing but a masala film whose script was written after the 2019 elections. He is now getting direction from Delhi.
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Questioning the Election Commission’s move, Raut said, “In the history of Indian politics, the Election Commission has not given such a decision for any party.”
Referring to Prashant Bhushan’s petition in the Supreme Court against the appointment of the Election Commissioner, Raut further said, “Was the Election Commissioner appointed or brought in hastily to pass such an order against the Shiv Sena? … The Election Commission cannot decide the fate of the party. The number of MLAs and MPs is a big definition of the party and the Election Commission should have considered it deeply. What if all the MLAs and MPs who betrayed us are defeated in the next election? Will the Election Commission give us back the name of our party and the election symbol of bow and arrow?
Raut also alleged that the Election Commission had given such an order to “return some favor”.
In the history of Indian politics, the Election Commission has not given such a decision for any party. Was the Election Commissioner appointed or brought in hastily to give such an order against Shiv Sena? … The Election Commission cannot decide the fate of the party on the number of MLAs and MPs … What if all the MLAs and MPs who cheated us lose in the next election? Will the Election Commission give us back our party name and the symbol of the bow and arrow?
‘They cheated us for power, money’
Targeting Shinde, Raut said, ‘When we joined Shiv Sena, we knew that it is not so easy to walk on this path. We followed Balasaheb Thackeray and after him we are with Uddhav Thackeray. Those who cheated us a few months back got everything from the party – name, position and authority. Shinde and some MLAs betrayed Uddhav Thackeray and Shiv Sena just for power and money.
Sanjay Raut is clear: “Shiv Sena is Thackeray and Thackeray means Shiv Sena.”
On the issue of whip being issued by the Shinde camp in both the Houses of Parliament and the Assembly, Raut said, “Technically they cannot issue a whip to us as the Speaker had recognized us as a separate group at the time of party split.” . , Now the order of Election Commission has given them name and symbol, but our group is different. We have to wait till the Supreme Court hears the matter.
The people of Maharashtra are hurt by the order of the Election Commission and the way the party split. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has started this game, we will end it in 2024.
‘We will end this game of BJP in 2024’
Despite the setback, the party is confident that they will emerge victorious in the court of the people. He said, ‘The people of Maharashtra are hurt by the order of the Election Commission and the way the party split. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has started this game, we will end it in 2024.
Raut also said that party chief Uddhav Thackeray would tour the entire state to meet party workers and local leaders. He will hold rallies and interact with people.
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