Eknath Shinde wanted to join Congress in past, claims Sanjay Raut
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Mumbai (PTI): Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed on Saturday that former Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena head Eknath Shinde wanted to join the Congress in the past.
Though Raut didn't mention the year or month when Shinde, who split the undivided Shiv Sena in June 2022, apparently planned the switch, he invoked the late Congress leader Ahmed Patel.
"I know what all was going on. Ahmed Patel is not around now and hence I don't want to say anything more because he is not there to substantiate this,'' Raut told reporters.
Patel died on November 25, 2020.
When probed further, Raut said, "Ask (senior Congress leader and ex-chief minister) Prithviraj Chavan about it".
When contacted for his reaction by PTI, Chavan declined to comment.
Shinde was not immediately available for his reaction.
Former Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole had caused a flutter with his "offer" to Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar (of NCP) to switch to the opposition alliance with the promise of the "rotational post of the chief minister". He made these comments during Holi celebrations.
When asked to react, Raut said nothing is impossible in politics.
"I am speechless. The only thing I can say is that nothing is impossible in politics," he added.
Raut said no one had imagined that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) would be formed in 2019 or that an "unconstitutional" government would take charge in 2022 (under Shinde) or Devendra Fadnavis get an absolute majority in 2024.
He alleged that Shinde had nothing to do with the saffron flag of Balasaheb Thackeray.
''Shinde and Ajit Pawar (who split Nationalist Congress Party in 2023) are carrying the flags of the BJP," the Shiv Sena (MP) claimed.
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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.
