Senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said on July 19 that the party was ready to fight over the election symbol and control of the organisation.
Interacting with the media, Raut also claimed that the BJP was trying to divide Maharashtra into three pieces and that it was part of the saffron party’s conspiracy to break into Shiv Sena.
He also hit out at Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and accused him of trying to break up the Shiv Sena parliamentary party at a time when the state was struggling to deal with heavy floods in some parts.
“We are ready for any fight, be it for election symbol or party organization. Some MPs and MLAs may leave us. But MLAs and MPs alone do not make Shiv Sena,” Raut said. It is difficult for the rebels to win any future elections.
He reminded the broken faction of the political, social and financial aid extended by party supremo Uddhav Thackeray over the years.
He also termed Eknath Shinde’s faction as a ‘snake’.
MP Raut tweeted on Tuesday morning, “Learn the skill of crushing jokes too.. Don’t leave the forest for fear of snakes… Jai Maharashtra!!”
Raut also took a dig at Shinde, saying he had to visit Delhi as he was the “chief minister of the BJP”.
“I never remember that Shiv Sena chief minister Manohar Joshi or Narayan Rane was visiting the national capital for cabinet expansion and other issues,” he said.
The Shiv Sena parliamentary party is looking at a split in its factions and a broken faction is approaching Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla with Rahul Shewale pleading for recognition of them as a separate group.
Shinde reached the national capital on July 18. Speaking to reporters after his arrival, Shinde said he was confident that all 18 Lok Sabha MPs from Shiv Sena would meet him on July 20.
The Supreme Court will hear the petitions filed by both the Shiv Sena factions related to the political crisis in Maharashtra on July 20.
Shinde said, “Shiv Sena MPs will meet us. We have 18 MPs, not just 12.
Talking about the purpose of his visit to the national capital, Shinde said, “I have come to Delhi to discuss about OBC reservation as Maharashtra government is committed to provide justice to OBCs. It is from the point of view of the state.” Important. We discussed with lawyers on our preparation for OBC reservation case (in SC).”
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray faction removed senior leader Ramdas Kadam and former MP Anandrao Adsul for anti-party activities.
(with inputs from agencies)
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