MUMBAI: (PTI):- Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday claimed that there was disagreement among the party’s rebel MPs over who would become a Union minister after switching sides, and a “settlement” has been reached to provide “additional Rs 25 crore” to those who will not get the post.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray also came down heavily on the six rebel MPs, calling them “shameless, ungrateful and corrupt” persons who betrayed those who helped them win in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
MPs Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar and Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar are likely to join the ruling Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. These lawmakers did not attend the Sena (UBT) parliamentary party meeting convened on Thursday, confirming their breach with the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.
Shiv Sena (UBT) workers also staged protests against the dissident MPs, indicating that their formal exit was just a matter of time.
Rajabhau Waje (Nashik), who attended the party meeting in New Delhi, was given a rousing welcome upon his return at the Nashik railway station by Shiv Sena (UBT) workers for “staying loyal to the party”.
In a post on X, Aaditya Thackeray, in his first reaction after six MPs rebelled against the party, said Maharashtra will not tolerate this filthy politics.
“Once again, we are witnessing a shocking example of filthy politics. These shameless, ungrateful, and corrupt individuals who won in 2024 because of certain people are now betraying them,” Thackeray said.
Nimbalkar, one of the six rebel MPs, told PTI that the upcoming verdict in the murder case of his father had nothing to do with with the current political situation. Raut had earlier claimed that Nimbalkar was being promised a favourable verdict in the 2006 case related to the murder of his father Pawanraje Nimbalkar.
“Connecting my father’s murder case with the current political situation has no meaning. Had it been so, I would have joined the ruling party in 2022 seeking a quicker verdict,” the Dharashiv MP said.
Talking to reporters on Friday, Sanjay Raut said, “There are fights in the rebel group over who will become a minister at the Centre. Only one among the six can become a minister, so it has been decided, and a settlement has been made that the rest will be given an additional Rs 25 crore.”
On Wednesday, Raut had claimed that the dissident MPs were being offered Rs 50 crore to switch sides.
Slamming Mumbai Northeast MP Sanjay Dina Patil, Raut said there was no reason for him to abandon the party. Even his daughter, Rajool Patil, was given a ticket for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election by ignoring a “loyalist”, he said.
“We were very confident that Sanjay Dina Patil will attend the meeting called by the party in New Delhi on Thursday,” Raut said.
He also attacked the Maharashtra government for granting ‘Y-plus’ security to rebel MPs, and dared them to roam without protection.
“The police department is only for the protection of traitors. This is a waste of public money,” Raut said, adding that the dissident MPs should first resign and seek fresh mandate from the people.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Anil Desai also slammed dissident MPs and said they made party workers toil for their victory and then ditched the party. He also justified the protests of Shiv Sena (UBT) workers and said it was a manifestation of their anger against the rebel MPs.
Ambadas Danve, another Sena (UBT) leader, accused the ruling BJP of orchestrating the imminent defection of the six MPs to increase the NDA’s parliamentary headcount and push through the controversial Delimitation Bill.
“The BJP is behind this entire plan, but Eknath Shinde has been made the figurehead. This plan was executed to increase the (NDA’s) headcount in Parliament so they can pass the Delimitation Bill. The BJP fears losing its mandate in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections,” he said.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s city president Sandeep Deshpande claimed he had warned in the past that Uddhav Thackeray should not give a ticket to Sanjay Patil as he would be the first to switch loyalties.
