‘Sanjay Raut eats from Uddhav Thackeray’s hand, but works for Sharad Pawar’; Shinde camp Minister’s remarks sparks furore in Maharashtra Assembly 

Speaking in the Assembly, Dada Bhuse dared Sanjay Raut to resign from his post in the Upper House of the Parliament.

Maharashtra Minister and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction leader Dada Bhuse on Tuesday remarked that while Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut “ate from Uddhav Thackeray’s hand, his loyalties lay with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar”.

Mr. Bhuse’s statements in the Legislative Assembly sparked a furore among the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders — especially the NCP and the Shiv Sena (UBT) — who demanded the former’s apology for ‘denigrating’ Mr. Pawar.

“Sanjay Raut is a person who eats the bhakri (bread) of ‘Matoshree’ [Uddhav Thackeray’s residence], but does Sharad Pawar’s chakri (work or bidding),” said the Shinde faction leader.

Speaking in the Assembly, Mr. Bhuse dared Mr. Raut to resign from his post in the Upper House of the Parliament, stating that he could become a Rajya Sabha MP only because of the votes of the MLAs from the Eknath Shinde faction, whom Mr. Raut habitually taunted as ‘traitors’, in the wake of Mr. Shinde’s revolt and the Shiv Sena split.

The verbal duel between Mr. Bhuse, who is an MLA of the Malegaon Outer Assembly constituency (in Nashik district), was triggered after Mr. Raut, in a tweet, accused Mr. Bhuse of collecting shares worth ₹178.25 crore from farmers in the name of a company, whose website displayed information to the contrary.

Mr. Raut’s accusation of alleged irregularities on Mr. Bhuse’s part riled the latter, who said he would quit politics, if found guilty.

“But if the allegations against me are proven wrong, then Sanjay Raut should quit as Rajya Sabha MP and editor of Saamana [mouthpiece of Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena],” said Mr. Bhuse.