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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Trump says EU has until July 4 to approve last year's trade deal or it will face higher tariffs
Washington (AP): President Donald Trump has said in a social media post that goods from the European Union would face higher tariff rates if the 27-member bloc fails to approve last year's trade framework by July 4.
The announcement on Thursday appeared to be a deadline extension after the president said last Friday that EU autos would face a higher 25 per cent tariff starting this week. Trump made the updated announcement after what he described as a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Still, the US president was displeased that the European Parliament had yet to finalize the trade arrangement reached last year, which was further complicated in February by the US Supreme Court ruling that Trump lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency to impose the initial tariffs used to pressure the EU into talks.
"A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO!" Trump posted. "I agreed to give her until our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels."
It was unclear from the post whether Trump was implying that the tariff rates would jump on all EU goods or the increase would only apply to autos.
His latest statement indicates he might be backing away from his earlier threat on EU autos by giving the European Parliament several more weeks to approve the agreement.
Under the original terms of the framework, the US would charge a 15 per cent tax on most goods imported from the EU.
But since the Supreme Court ruling, the administration has levied a 10 per cent tariff while investigating trade imbalances and national security issues, aiming to put in new tariffs to make up for lost revenues.
