BJP made Eknath Shinde Maharashtra CM to wrest Mumbai from Shiv Sena, claims Sanjay Raut
The Hindu
Shiv Sena has ruled the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for over two decades
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday alleged that the BJP has made Eknath Shinde the Chief Minister of Maharashtra to wrest Mumbai from the Shiv Sena of Bal Thackeray.
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, who stepped down as the Chief Minister on June 29 following a rebellion by Mr. Shinde, removed the latter from the post of 'Shiv Sena leader', accusing him of "indulging in anti-party activities". Mr. Shinde on Thursday took oath as the Chief Minister, while BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as his deputy.
Talking to reporters here, Mr. Raut said, "Uddhav Thackeray made it clear yesterday that Shinde doesn't belong to Shiv Sena. It is now clear that Shinde has been used to defeat Shiv Sena in Mumbai, where civic polls will be held later this year."
Shiv Sena has ruled the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for over two decades.
Mr. Raut further said that the Congress was split several times, but the Congress of Indira Gandhi still survives.
"Similarly, Shiv Sena is where Thackeray is," he said.
The Sena MP said Mr. Fadnavis needs to be appreciated for taking up the deputy Chief Minister's post as Mr. Shinde was a junior Minister in his government earlier, and added that discipline is maintained and orders are obeyed in BJP.