Amid an unprecedented rebellion that his party is reeling under, Shiv Sena chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Thursday set the cat among the pigeons when he — in his apparent over-enthusiasm to placate the rebel Sena MLAs — said that if the aggrieved party legislators wanted the Sena to quit the Maha Vikas Aghadi they should come and place their demand before Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Raut’s statement — though it came in the form of an appeal to the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs camping at a Guwahati hotel — came on a day when the Sena allies pledged their support to the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA Government. Understandably so, Raut’s remarks upset the MVA leaders, including NCP chief Sharad Pawar, as it meant the Sena was ready to forsake its ruling allies to save the party.
“You (rebel Sena MLAs) say you are real Shiv Sainiks and will not quit the party. We are ready to consider your demand provided you come back to Mumbai in 24 hours and discuss the issue with CM Uddhav Thackeray. Your demand will be considered positively. Don’t write letters on Twitter and WhatsApp,” Raut appealed to the MLAs.
He was talking to the media after a meeting of Sena MLAs at the CM’s official residence.
Raut told the rebel Sena MLAs: “The solution can be found through discussions. Our doors are open for you. Why are you wandering like this? Instead of being slaves, let us take decisions with self-respect... If you think that the Sena should quit the MVA and look at alternatives. We can consider that. But, show the courage to come back to Mumbai and meet party chief Uddhav Thackeray. You can have a direct talk with Uddhav Sahib and resolve matters”.
When his attention was drawn to Raut’s statement that the Sena was prepared to walk out of the MVA government if the rebel MLAs so desired, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said: “It is the responsibility of all the three parties (NCP, Congress, and Shiv Sena) to save the government. Only Sanjay Raut can say why he made such a statement”
Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar declined to comment on Raut’s statement. “We don’t want to react to what he said. The MVA needs to work collectively. Sanjay Raut has the right to say whatever he wants to. I have no clue why he made such a statement. We will ask Uddhav about Raut’s statement.”.
Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole also refused to comment on Raut’s remarks by saying that he would not react to the Shiv Sena spokesperson’s statement as it was an internal matter of the Sena