Shah misled PM on 50:50, says Sena leader

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, November 14

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut today suggested that BJP president Amit Shah and senior party leaders might have misled Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the deal between the two parties to share power equally in Maharashtra.

Speaking to reporters here, Raut said the 50:50 power-sharing deal between Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray and Amit Shah had been finalised privately at Matoshree, the residence of the Thackerays.

“The discussions were held in the drawing room of late Balasaheb Thackeray. For us, the room is a temple. The talks were held in the temple. If someone says no promises were made, then it is an insult to the temple, Balasaheb Thackeray and Maharashtra,” said Raut.

The Shiv Sena leader’s comments come a day after Shah denied that a deal to share the post of Chief Minister was made between the two parties. Shah further stated that Modi had, during the election campaign, reiterated that former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would continue at the top job if the alliance returned to power.

“We heard PM Modi say Fadnavis would continue to be CM, but we did not object to it as we didn’t think it was a political message to us,” Raut said. “Had Shah informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the 50:50 formula, we would not be facing this situation today,” he said.

He further countered Shah by saying that the BJP too was silent even as Uddhav Thackeray had said at his rallies that the next Chief Minister would be from the Shiv Sena. “Amit Shah was silent at that time. Now he is saying something else,” said Raut.

The Shiv Sena MP said his party was forced to reveal details of the agreement with the BJP because the former was betrayed.