Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday launched a scathing attack on former Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, blaming him for the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) dismal performance in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Raut alleged that Chandrachud’s handling of the Shiv Sena disqualification case emboldened political defectors, leading to the MVA’s defeat.
Raut, addressing the media, stated, “DY Chandrachud removed the fear of the law from defectors. His name will be written in black letters in history.” The remarks came as Shiv Sena (UBT) secured only 20 out of 95 seats it contested, while alliance partners Congress and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) won 16 and 10 seats respectively.
The crux of Raut’s criticism was the Supreme Court’s decision, under Chandrachud’s tenure, to leave the disqualification of MLAs who defected from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena to Eknath Shinde’s faction in 2022 to the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker. The Speaker later declared Shinde’s bloc as the legitimate Shiv Sena, significantly impacting the political landscape of the state.
“The election results were predetermined. The voting process was merely a formality,” Raut alleged, suggesting that timely action by the Supreme Court could have altered the outcome. “If you weren’t going to deliver the judgment, why sit in that chair? Chandrachud may be an excellent speaker or professor, but he failed as a Chief Justice to uphold constitutional values.”
Raut also hinted at a larger conspiracy, claiming the election campaign was influenced by divisive tactics and an “RSS-driven poisonous narrative” that hurt the MVA’s prospects. “We are disheartened but not defeated. Our fight will continue,” he said.
Turning to the formation of the new government, Raut criticized the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, suggesting that decisions like the Chief Minister’s appointment were being dictated by a “Gujarat lobby.” He warned against conducting the swearing-in ceremony outside Maharashtra or at locations like Wankhede Stadium, calling it an affront to Maharashtra’s culture and history.
As the dust settles on the elections, Raut’s fiery statements reflect the challenges the MVA faces in regrouping and re-strategizing for future battles.