Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday escalated the political storm surrounding Rahul Gandhi’s recent “vote chori” allegations by questioning the silence and whereabouts of former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar.

Linking the controversy to the 2023 Shiv Sena split, Raut accused Kumar of playing a decisive role in legitimising defections by recognising the Eknath Shinde-led camp as the “real” Shiv Sena. According to Raut, this move directly benefitted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies, paving the way for their electoral victories in both the 2024 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections.

“The 2024 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections were won by BJP and their allies with significant help from this gentleman! By giving the Shiv Sena party and symbol to the traitor faction, he encouraged defections! Rahul Gandhi has now exposed the Election Commission’s biases! But where is this shadowy figure now? Can anyone tell?” Raut wrote in a sharp post on X.

Drawing a parallel, Raut also raised alarm over the continued absence of former Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. Earlier, the Sena (UBT) MP had even written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, expressing concerns about Dhankhar’s health and safety.

In his letter, Raut wrote, “Rumours are circulating in Delhi that Dhankhar has been confined to his residence and is reportedly not safe. Some colleagues from the Rajya Sabha are even contemplating filing a writ petition of habeas corpus in the Supreme Court as we are genuinely worried about his whereabouts.”

He further added that Dhankhar was last seen presiding over the opening of the Parliament session on July 21 but has not been heard from since. Attempts by fellow MPs to reach him or his staff have failed, intensifying speculation in political circles.