Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday took a jibe at Raj Thackeray, who announced support for BJP, by questioning the reason behind the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader supporting the saffron party and asked which miracle has suddenly happened.
Raut also asked Thackeray which of his file has been opened by the BJP and what would the MNS leader tell the public.
“Now what kind of miracle has happened suddenly, we should ask this from him (Raj Thackeray). You have suddenly turned around and are supporting the enemies of Maharashtra, what will you tell the public? What is the reason behind this? Which file has been opened?" Sanjay Raut said, according to ANI.
The remarks come a day after MNS president Raj Thackeray announced unconditional support to the ‘Mahayuti' alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP in the state and backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Addressing his party's annual rally in Mumbai on Gudi Padwa, Raj Thackeray said he expects PM Modi to focus on the concerns of the youth and maintained the state should get a larger share of central revenue keeping in mind taxes it pays.
“I don't have any expectations. When there is a need for a strong leadership in the country, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena will back the BJP, Shiv Sena, NCP unconditionally. It is only for Narendra Modi,” Raj Thackeray asserted.
Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said MNS chief Raj Thackeray's support to the ruling BJP-led alliance in Maharashtra will not affect the opposition coalition MVA's election prospects.
“A tiger has turned into a lamb,” Wadettiwar quipped.
“When Raj Thackeray visited Delhi, it was evident that he will go with the BJP. But we did not expect that a tiger will turn into a lamb so soon. Will a fighter like Raj Thackeray become a slave?” Wadettiwar asked, speaking to reporters.
Raj Thackeray, however, did not elaborate on whether his party, which has not fielded any candidate so far, will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Raj Thackeray's support to Modi comes after his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah last month. Ever since, there were speculations that he will join the ruling Mahayuti (grand alliance).
Thackeray, who broke away from the undivided Shiv Sena and founded the MNS in 2006, asked his party workers to start preparing for the state assembly elections which are due in October this year.
For the 55-year-old firebrand leader known for his oratory skills, politics has come to a full circle. He openly backed PM Modi's candidature for the Prime Minister's post in 2014. He then changed tracks and went on to become his bitter critic, going to the extent of playing videos of promises made by Modi at his well-attended rallies, and pointing out how they remained unfulfilled.