Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut. File
| Photo Credit: ANI
While the buzz of Ajit Pawar becoming a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena dispensation could have apparently subsided, the friction between Mr. Pawar and his Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition ally, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Sanjay Raut continued.
A day after Mr. Pawar scotched rumours of him joining the ruling parties as “baseless”, Mr. Raut on Wednesday stated he was the chowkidar (watchman) of the MVA alliance (of the Thackeray-led Sena, the NCP and Congress) and that the NCP chief had no purpose to “get angry or blame him” (Mr. Raut) if he uncovered the truth that the BJP was making an attempt to interrupt the NCP.
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“I am the chowkidar [watchman] of the MVA… When the Shiv Sena was being split [referring to Eknath Shinde’s revolt], all our allies [NCP chief] Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar and the Congress’ Nana Patole had expressed worry about us. It is our duty to ensure that all our allies remain firm when pressure is being applied by the BJP in form of Central agencies to break us,” stated Mr. Raut, talking to reporters in Mumbai.
The Sena (UBT) chief additional stated that Mr. Ajit Pawar was nobody to boost questions on his (Mr. Raut’s) reliability.
“How can he question my reliability? I can accept if [NCP president] Sharad Pawar says something. And what is wrong if I’ve written in the Saamana that there was an attempt to break the opposition in Maharashtra? Have the BJP not broken the Shiv Sena? Are they not targeting the NCP? Go and ask NCP leaders Hasan Mushrif, Jitendra Awhad, Praful Patel or Anil Deshmukh whether or not there is any pressure on them. If I am putting these things in front of the public what is wrong with that,” Mr. Raut stated, including that he would all the time go on talking the reality and if it damage anyone, there was nothing he may do about it.
Speculation over Ajit Pawar’s doable exit from the NCP peaked after Mr. Raut, who’s the manager editor of his celebration’s mouthpiece Saamana, claimed that in their Uddhav Thackeray’s current assembly with Sharad Pawar, the latter had reportedly spoken of the stress being utilized on NCP leaders by Central businesses however had assured Mr. Thackeray that the NCP wouldn’t ally with the BJP, come what could.
In his weekly column Rok Thok, Mr. Raut had additional claimed that Mr. Pawar had advised Mr. Thackeray that whereas the celebration as an entire wouldn’t be part of with the BJP, if any particular person wished to take a private resolution [to leave the NCP and join the ruling BJP], then it’s their lookout.
The reference to ‘individuals wanting to exit the NCP’ was allegedly in the direction of Ajit Pawar, who had tried to kind a authorities with the BJP after the 2019 Assembly election
On Tuesday, whereas refuting the buzz surrounding his political strikes, Ajit Pawar had sharply rebuked Mr. Raut with out naming him, by stating stated that spokespersons from different events have been performing just like the NCP’s spokesmen.
“Who has given them the right to speak on our behalf? We are quite capable of expressing our own stance in a firm manner. We do not need anyone to act as our legal counsel,” Ajit Pawar had stated.
In response, Mr. Raut stated that it was ironic that Ajit Pawar was blaming him.
“Why are you getting angry at me? When the Shiv Sena was being broken, you people [NCP and Congress] were acting as our defence. We have uncovered the BJP conspiracy to break the NCP. They should be the ones getting angry at me. The BJP’s mask is off… the manner in which they are trying to break parties by putting pressure of agencies has been thoroughly exposed and they have now gone on the backfoot,” stated the Sena (UBT) chief.
While recognized for his affinity in the direction of Sharad Pawar, Mr. Raut, recognized for his acerbic speech, has not endeared himself to both Ajit Pawar or State Congress chief Nana Patole. with whom relations proceed to be delicately poised at finest.
Likewise, the ‘rebel’ Sena faction led by CM Eknath Shinde has persistently held Mr. Raut and his proximity to Sharad Pawar as one being of the prime causes for his or her revolt final yr.