Sanjay Raut claims some BJP leaders want alliance with Uddhav Sena; Fadnavis dismisses speculation
Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has claimed that some leaders within the BJP are in favour of reuniting with Uddhav Thackeray's faction. However, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has dismissed the speculation, stating that casual meetings should not be given political significance.
Raut suggested that certain members within the Sena (UBT) might also be open to the idea of partnering with the BJP, but he clarified that no formal discussions had taken place within the party. His remarks came after Uddhav Thackeray attended the wedding of BJP MLA Parag Alavani’s daughter, where Sena (UBT) MLC Milind Narvekar and Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil were seen engaging in cordial exchanges.
"I doubt how long Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena will stay with the BJP. We are in a wait-and-watch mode. Though no such discussions have taken place within the Sena (UBT), some members might share similar sentiments," Raut said.
The BJP and Shiv Sena had been allies for 25 years before their coalition collapsed after the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections due to disagreements over the Chief Minister's post. Uddhav Thackeray then formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government with the Congress and the NCP. However, in 2022, Eknath Shinde led a rebellion within Shiv Sena, split the party, and later secured the party’s name and ‘bow and arrow’ symbol.
In the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shinde’s Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, won 230 out of 288 seats, with the BJP securing 132 seats. The MVA suffered a major defeat, winning only 46 seats, of which Sena (UBT) secured 20.
Responding to Raut's claims, Fadnavis dismissed the possibility of an alliance forming based on informal meetings. "No one should be naive enough to think that just because people meet at a wedding, an alliance is formed or parties come closer," he said.
Meanwhile, Raut confirmed that Uddhav Thackeray would not campaign for either the Congress or the AAP in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections but reaffirmed Sena (UBT)'s support for the INDIA bloc.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
