Shah told Shinde to merge with BJP for CM post: Raut; DCM junks claim | Mumbai News – The Times of India
Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday claimed that deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde met Union home minister Amit Shah in Pune in the wee hours of Feb 22 and expressed frustration over being sidelined in Mahayuti govt and his decisions being reversed by CM Devendra Fadnavis. Shah allegedly suggested Shinde merge Shiv Sena with BJP to secure the CM’s post, emphasising that no outsider will become Maharashtra CM now.
Terming Raut’s claims false and baseless, Shinde on Sunday evening denied meeting Shah. He was responding to a question at the govt’s tea party ahead of the budget session of the state legislature.
Hitting back at Raut, Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat said those who have sold their Sena to Congress and NCP (SP) must not talk about the real Shiv Sena. “Who has told them all this? Did Shah tell them? We don’t take them seriously,” he said.
Narrating the alleged conversation between Shinde and Shah at a hotel in Koregaon Park on Feb 22, 4am, Raut, in his weekly column, Rok Thok, in Saamna, wrote: “Shinde: I have no respect in govt, I was CM till yesterday. Today all my decisions are being reversed…Me and my people are being cornered, we joined the alliance on your word that I will be CM. Shah: Our 125 MLAs were elected…How can you claim CM’s post? Shinde: The election was held under my leadership. Shah: No, election was held on Modiji’s face. Tell me what you want. I will try. Shinde: CM. Shah: Can’t happen yet. CM will be from the party [BJP]. Shinde: What should I do? Shah: You merge with BJP. Then the claim will be there…An outsider won’t become the CM of Maharashtra now. Shinde: What about our party then? Shah: Leave that to us, we only made that party.”
Raut also hit out at Shinde for raising questions over Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray not attending the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. He said Shinde should first ask RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat if he had visited the Maha Kumbh to take a dip.
Sena leaders in Vidarbha called Raut’s article a “figment of imagination”. “Sena (UBT) is frustrated to be in opposition…they are aware that a similar fate awaits them in Mu-mbai [civic polls], after which the party will be finished. So, to create distrust between Mahayuti members, Raut is making such allegations.”
Terming Raut’s claims false and baseless, Shinde on Sunday evening denied meeting Shah. He was responding to a question at the govt’s tea party ahead of the budget session of the state legislature.
Hitting back at Raut, Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat said those who have sold their Sena to Congress and NCP (SP) must not talk about the real Shiv Sena. “Who has told them all this? Did Shah tell them? We don’t take them seriously,” he said.
Narrating the alleged conversation between Shinde and Shah at a hotel in Koregaon Park on Feb 22, 4am, Raut, in his weekly column, Rok Thok, in Saamna, wrote: “Shinde: I have no respect in govt, I was CM till yesterday. Today all my decisions are being reversed…Me and my people are being cornered, we joined the alliance on your word that I will be CM. Shah: Our 125 MLAs were elected…How can you claim CM’s post? Shinde: The election was held under my leadership. Shah: No, election was held on Modiji’s face. Tell me what you want. I will try. Shinde: CM. Shah: Can’t happen yet. CM will be from the party [BJP]. Shinde: What should I do? Shah: You merge with BJP. Then the claim will be there…An outsider won’t become the CM of Maharashtra now. Shinde: What about our party then? Shah: Leave that to us, we only made that party.”
Raut also hit out at Shinde for raising questions over Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray not attending the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. He said Shinde should first ask RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat if he had visited the Maha Kumbh to take a dip.
Sena leaders in Vidarbha called Raut’s article a “figment of imagination”. “Sena (UBT) is frustrated to be in opposition…they are aware that a similar fate awaits them in Mu-mbai [civic polls], after which the party will be finished. So, to create distrust between Mahayuti members, Raut is making such allegations.”
