Independent Stance Limited to Mumbai, No Alliance With Raj Thackeray’s MNS, Says Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut in Pune
Reported By Varad Bhatkhande
Pune, 27th January 2025: Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut is on a Pune district visit today to review preparations for upcoming local body elections. During his visit, he clarified that the decision to contest elections independently is limited to Mumbai and does not apply to the rest of Maharashtra. Raut also confirmed that there would be no alliance with Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
As part of his Pune district tour, Raut will visit Shiv Sena (UBT) offices in Pune City and Pimpri Chinchwad, meeting with office bearers and activists. He is accompanied by key Uddhav Sena leaders in Pune.
Raut stated, “The Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections have concluded. We won in the Lok Sabha but lost in the Vidhan Sabha. The reasons are known to the entire country. We will not be demoralized by this defeat and will contest the local body elections. Preparations are underway for that.”
He further explained, “Although there are calls for independence, the Mahavikas Aghadi is not split. The independent stance is limited to Mumbai only. It’s a big city with different equations, and Shiv Sena has a strong hold over it. The activists’ emotions are behind the call to go independent, which senior leaders have voiced. However, in other cities like Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, all parties agree that we should fight unitedly.”
Raut also announced that there would be no alliance with Raj Thackeray or Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), addressing rumours and speculations about a potential Thackeray family reunion.
Regarding the opposition, Raut refrained from commenting on Jalgaon Rural MLA Gulabrao Patil’s statement about Eknath Shinde. Patil had claimed that Shinde didn’t want to become Deputy Chief Minister, as he was Chief Minister before, but had to due to government formation.
Expanding on this, Raut stated that the opposition’s agenda is to remain in power at any cost. He asserted that Eknath Shinde only aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to protect himself. Raut hinted at a possible rift between Uday Samant and Eknath Shinde following the distribution of guardian minister positions, saying there will be ‘Uday’ (rise) in Shiv Sena.
Raut further targeted the BJP, accusing them of becoming addicted to splitting parties nationwide. He remarked, “They have tasted the blood of party splits,” and predicted that Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde’s parties would face further divisions.
