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Raut says keeping the home department with Sena would have helped Uddhav Thackeray prevent Eknath Shinde’s rebellion. While Fadnavis hasn’t reacted, Raut’s statement may not go down well with allies Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar)
In the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government, home portfolio was given to Sharad Pawar-led NCP. (PTI)
Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut on Monday claimed that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, formed in Maharashtra in 2019, would not have collapsed if the Shiv Sena had retained the home department.
Speaking to the media, Raut alleged that senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis had privately advised Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray to keep the home department with him and not alliance partners. The department was, however, given to the Nationalist Congress Party (then united NCP).
According to Raut, the strategic error allowed rival factions within the Shiv Sena, particularly the one led by current caretaker CM Eknath Shinde, to weaken the coalition and ultimately join hands with the BJP.
Raut has reignited discussions on the internal dynamics that led to the fall of the Uddhav Thackeray-led coalition in June 2022, at a critical juncture ahead of the formation of the Mahayuti government.
TENSIONS WITHIN MVA
The MVA combine, comprising the Sena UBT, Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction, is attempting to project a united front amid the resurgence of the BJP-Shinde Sena-NCP (Ajit Pawar) combine.
While the Shiv Sena UBT leader did not explicitly name the Congress and NCP, his remarks underscore the friction that occasionally surfaced during the MVA government’s tenure. The home department, which is seen as a critical portfolio in maintaining political control, was assigned to NCP’s Anil Deshmukh, who later faced corruption allegations.
Raut’s statement implies that if the Sena had been in charge of this key ministry, it could have handled dissent within its ranks more effectively, potentially averting the rebellion led by Shinde.
His remarks also suggest dissatisfaction with the internal distribution of portfolios during the MVA regime, a topic that has often been a source of debate among the coalition partners.
Raut’s remarks come at a time when the Shiv Sena UBT is attempting to consolidate its position after the split with Shinde’s faction. By bringing up the collapse of the MVA government, Raut may be aiming to highlight the challenges the alliance faced and deflect criticism from his party’s leadership. However, this could also create tensions within the MVA, as it indirectly casts aspersions on the Congress and NCP’s handling of governance during the coalition’s tenure.
#WATCH | Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut says, ” In Maharashtra, such a govt was in power that was wrong as per constitution, with the support of Supreme Court. Dy Chandrachud is responsible for this…it has been 10 days, they have a huge majority…BJP themselves have a… pic.twitter.com/n14ey8RpUT— ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2024
ADVANTAGE BJP
With the Mumbai civic body elections approaching, the MVA partners are under pressure to present a unified narrative.
The BJP is likely to use Raut’s comments to question the stability and cohesiveness of the MVA. By highlighting internal disagreements within the erstwhile coalition, the BJP can strengthen its narrative that the MVA was an opportunistic alliance rather than a principled political front.
Fadnavis has not yet responded to Raut’s allegations. However, BJP leaders could use this opportunity to emphasise their role in bringing stability to the state after the fall of the MVA government.
Raut’s statement also raises questions about the coalition’s ability to learn from its past mistakes. While the remarks could serve to highlight the Sena UBT’s perspective, they also risk alienating its current allies, the Congress and NCP.
