Raut claims 20-22 MLAs of Sunetra Pawar's NCP could quit the party

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut has claimed that 20 to 22 MLAs of the NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar could leave the party at any time. The statement has caused a stir in political circles.

The matter began with news that some MLAs from Sunetra Pawar's party were to meet senior leader Sharad Pawar today. Raut was asked about this. He replied that these MLAs were not meeting Sharad Pawar merely for a chat. According to Raut, Ajit Dada's leadership no longer exists. He said that in the Mahayuti they are being made to live in servitude and to pawn their self-respect.

Raut said that for this reason these MLAs of Sunetra Pawar would return home. He made it clear that he did not call this a merger. He also said that either these MLAs would move to another party before the elections. Raut claimed that this party, created by Amit Shah, is about to break up.

Raut also gave his view on Sunetra Pawar's meeting with Sharad Pawar. He said it was a good thing, that there are family ties and that they should meet. Raut recalled that Ajit Pawar too used to call on Sharad Pawar on Diwali.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said earlier that there would be no merger without asking them. Raut said Fadnavis may have been speaking about Sunetra Pawar. He did not think Fadnavis had said anything about Sharad Pawar. According to Raut, Sunetra Pawar's party is an appendage of the BJP, so the BJP can take a decision on it. He also called Eknath Shinde's faction an appendage of the BJP and said the BJP would decide on that too. But Raut stressed that the BJP cannot take any decision on the original Thackeray Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar's NCP.

A day earlier, minister and Shinde faction leader Pratap Sarnaik had met Raut, and political matters were also discussed. On this, Raut said that anything can happen in politics, that it is Pratap Sarnaik's statement and should be left with him. Raut said neither he nor his party had made the statement. According to him, the Shinde faction's party was created by Amit Shah and will run on his orders. Raut said there is no stir in his party.

Explaining why Sarnaik came, Raut said he had come to his house, that they have old ties and that he wanted to meet Raut's mother. Raut said that Sarnaik is a minister and that when they meet, political discussion also happens and views are exchanged. He also hinted that had this exchange not taken place, Uddhav Thackeray would not have become chief minister.