Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has sparked a political firestorm with his recent claim that Balasaheb Thackeray, the late Shiv Sena founder, did not want Raj Thackeray to leave the party. In an interview with news agency ANI, Shinde alleged that Uddhav Thackeray, the current Shiv Sena leader, was responsible for sidelining Raj Thackeray from the party. This statement has caused a stir in the political circles of Maharashtra.
Reacting strongly to these claims, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut dismissed Shinde’s allegations as baseless. During an interaction with the media, Raut refuted Shinde’s version of events, asserting, “Eknath Shinde is lying. The doors of Matoshree were not open to them 25 years ago.” Raut emphasized that he was present during the time when Raj Thackeray left the party and insisted that Shinde had no significant involvement in the party’s affairs at that time.
Raut further criticized Shinde, accusing him of aligning with deceitful individuals and spreading falsehoods. He questioned Shinde’s knowledge of the events surrounding Raj Thackeray’s departure, stating that Shinde was a relatively minor figure in Thane’s local politics back then and had no substantial role in Mumbai.
In a scathing remark, Raut also took a dig at Shinde’s recent foray into filmmaking, sarcastically offering to provide the “real story” if Shinde were to make a film on the subject. He teased that Shinde’s movie would be titled “Namkharam,” a term implying betrayal, and would reveal the true events behind the scenes.
The exchange between Shinde and Raut highlights the deepening rift within the Shiv Sena and adds another layer to the ongoing political drama in Maharashtra. As the war of words escalates, the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray continues to be a contentious issue within the party.