'Won't Talk About Any Camp...Our Party Is Strong': Sanjay Raut Amid Maharashtra Political Crisis

Raut told reporters on Thursday that the central government's Enforcement Directorate was being utilised to put pressure on Shiv Sena MPs.

Shiv Sena Leader Sanjay Raut.

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New Delhi: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday asserted that the party is still strong and that the rebels were not real "bhakts" (devotees) of Bal Thackeray, the party's late founder, even as Uddhav Thackeray's administration in Maharashtra seemed to be on fragile footing, news agency ANI reported.

"I won't talk about any camp, I will talk about my party. Our party is strong even to this day...About 20 MLAs are in touch with us...when they come to Mumbai, you will get to know...will soon be revealed, in what circumstances, pressure these MLAs left us," Sanjay Raut was quoted by ANI on its official Twitter handle. 

I won't talk about any camp, I will talk about my party. Our party is strong even to this day...About 20 MLAs are in touch with us...when they come to Mumbai, you will get to know...will soon be revealed, in what circumstances, pressure these MLAs left us: Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena pic.twitter.com/UBH9jH4qKs

— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2022

In the meantime, three more Shiv Sena MLAs departed Mumbai in support of senior party official Eknath Shinde, who is in charge of the uprising that poses a danger to the unity of the party.

Now that 40 of the party's 55 MLAs appear to be supporting the Shinde camp, the group may formally assert its status as the Shiv Sena since it possesses the 2/3 majority necessary by the anti-defection statute.

Eknath Shinde has been named as the rebels' commander in a letter to the governor.

After losing out to the Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress combination in 2019, the BJP may return to power in the state with the help of this group. Up until now, the BJP has maintained that it is unrelated to the problem.

As an alternative, ruling alliance allies Congress and Sharad Pawar's NCP have proposed that rebel Eknath Shinde be chosen Chief Minister.

Raut told reporters on Thursday that the central government's Enforcement Directorate was being utilised to put pressure on Shiv Sena MPs.

"He who leaves the party under ED pressure is not a true Balasaheb Bhakt. We're true Balasaheb Bhakts. Even we've ED pressure but will continue to stand with Uddhav Thackeray. When floor test happens everyone will see who's positive and who is negative," he said. 

(With Inputs From ANI)