Raut says Sena has gone far ahead now in the matter, CM will be of Shiv Sena

Mumbai:

Sounding ever so strident, senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday rejected state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Chandrakant Patils invitation for talks over power sharing. Speaking to newspersons, Raut took a jibe at Patils remarks that the doors of the BJP were always open for talks with Sena. He remarked “the question no longer exists as to whether the doors, windows are open or the door is ajar. The question is no longer of who should enter from where. They say they have not received any proposal. No one will believe in it. The Sena has gone far ahead now in the matter and it will be Sena chief minister soon”.

Arguing that the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra will be from the Sena, the Rajya Sabha MP stated that the Sena is fighting for ‘truth, justice and rights’ in the current political imbroglio that has engulfed the state. Raut remarked “the ‘grahan’ (eclipse) over the state will lift soon and the ‘shapath-grahan’ (swearing-in) ceremony of the new government will be held very soon”. He added that the decision regarding government formation will be taken in Maharashtra only. Raut questioned the silence on Sena president Uddhav Thackeray being painted as a liar and promises not kept.

Raut added that even Uddhav Thackeray wanted a ‘stable government’ and further stated that very soon a Sena led government will be sworn-in which will change the trend of state politics and be in tune with the public mandate. Asked about his talks with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar, the Sena leader retorted “yes, I have met him and spoken with him. Is it a crime? He is a respected senior national leader, what is wrong if we discuss any issues? All should talk with him. We know who all are in touch with him”.

With just three days left before the term of the 13th Maharashtra assembly expires on Friday, all political parties anxiously look at the next move of the Shiv Sena or face the prospect of a stint of President’s Rule.

The NCP on the other hand has put forth a fresh condition before the Sena asking it to pull out of the BJP led government and the NDA alliance before the NCP can think of an alliance with the Sena with outside support from the Congress.

The pro-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), BJP leaning newspaper “Tarun Bharat” which had called Raut a Sheikhchilli’ on Tuesday launched a fresh attack on Raut and warned that the Sena’s adamant stance could prove to be a ‘vinashkalin buddhi viprit’ moment in which it stood to lose everything.  (IANS)