Raut claims 20-22 MLAs of Sunetra Pawar faction ready to quit, in touch with Sharad Pawar

Amid talk of a merger of the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions, the possible switching of party by MLAs has now come up. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has claimed that 20 to 22 MLAs of the Sunetra Pawar faction are preparing to leave the party and are in touch with Sharad Pawar.

According to Raut, the political churn inside the party has left these MLAs disillusioned and they are thinking of walking out. He said they could leave the party at any time.

Raut also claimed that the leaders who have recently been meeting Sharad Pawar are not just dropping in for a chat, and that a big political plan is under way. He alleged that after the death of Ajit Pawar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has in a way taken over the NCP. Raut indicated that this is why the MLAs of the Sunetra Pawar faction are angry.

There was talk in political circles that some MLAs of the Sunetra Pawar faction had sought time to meet Sharad Pawar on Wednesday. This intensified speculation about possible equations between the two factions. But the meeting did not take place. Several key leaders of the Sharad Pawar faction, meanwhile, went to Silver Oak and met him. All eyes are therefore on the churn within the NCP.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is due to visit Pune on November 15. He will inaugurate the "Run for Unity" marathon being held in Pune and will also take part in the run. The visit is also seen as important for Maharashtra's political situation and for his talks with Mahayuti leaders. Amid the talk of an NCP merger, Shah's visit is considered significant.

Raut also targeted the Mahayuti government over the tussle for control of the Kolhapur District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union, known as Gokul. He made a serious allegation that Amit Shah is trying to hand Gokul to Gujarat's Amul. After the Mahayuti came to power in the election for the Gokul chairman's post, a fresh controversy has arisen in Kolhapur politics.

Raut said the like-minded alliance led by Satej Patil had a majority of 13 votes among the elected members. Even so, he alleged, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, under pressure from Amit Shah, appointed four members and changed the power equation. He said this was not part of the election process but amounted to a forcible seizure of power. In this matter he targeted Chief Minister Fadnavis, Amit Shah, Minister Hasan Mushrif and Chandrakant Patil.

Chandrakant Patil had commented on D. Y. Patil's wealth, and Raut hit back. He said D. Y. Patil used to go around on a scooter but, through his own hard work and ability, built a vast empire of educational institutions across the world.