In a bold claim that could have groundbreaking consequences if true, Sanjay Raut has claimed that Eknath Shinde's corporators are in contact with Shiv Sena (UBT) since they do not want a BJP Mayor in Mumbai. The senior leader questioned how long Eknath Shinde can hide his corporators in a hotel for fear of poaching.
Raut made the comments at a time when the Mahayuti alliance is reportedly at loggerheads over choosing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor. Eknath Shinde wants his party to hold the city's mayoralty for 2.5 years, but the BJP wants to keep it for the entirety of the tenure.
The alliance of the BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde) won a clear majority in the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Friday, securing 89 and 29 seats, respectively. All corporators from Shinde's party are currently staying at Taj Lands End, and it is learnt that they will remain there for the next three days, reports had said. The Deputy CM feared the BJP managing to convince his party men to jump ship, which may further weaken his position.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) finished as the second-largest party with 65 seats, landing a major blow to the Shinde camp. Sanjay Raut said that the return of "hotel politics" is a scar on Maharashtra, and his party is currently observing how things unfold from a neutral standpoint. "Discussions have taken place between Uddhav and Raj Thackeray. We are watching all developments neutrally, but many things are happening behind the scenes. We have not claimed the Mayor’s post. The numbers are almost equal. The BJP has secured only a slender majority," Raut was quoted as saying by Loksatta.
Will Shinde’s men return to Thackeray?
On Shinde's corporators getting in touch with his party, the senior leader said, "How long will they keep corporators confined? These corporators belong to the Shiv Sena. Even in their hearts, the flame of Marathi pride burns. Almost all of them have decided that a BJP Mayor should not be allowed.
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"The corporators who have been elected are originally Shiv Sainiks. A Shiv Sainik carries a different sentiment in his heart towards the Shiv Sena. We have understood that they do not want a BJP Mayor. No matter how much they are confined, there are still many means of communication, and messages keep coming through," Loksatta quoted him as saying.
A Marathi media report said that Raut alleged that Amit Shah wants one of his men to be made Mayor, but Devendra Fadnavis does not agree with this. The entire situation was no less than a circus, he said.
He also cocked a snook at Shinde for being forced to lock up his own party men to avoid them deserting after having divided the Shiv Sena in the past. "If those who themselves broke away Shiv Sena MLAs are now afraid that corporators might defect, that is surprising. They kept MLAs in Surat and have confined corporators here. For them, the truly safe place is actually Surat. They are also afraid of Devendra Fadnavis’ rule. When the Chief Minister is from the BJP and the Deputy Chief Minister is Eknath Shinde, yet they still fear that their corporators will be broken or abducted, it is nothing but a farce in Maharashtra’s politics. How long will they keep corporators confined?" the news outlet quoted him as saying.