Sena (UBT) never called for disbanding INDIA bloc or MVA: Sanjay Raut
Mumbai, Jan 12: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said his party wants to go solo in the local bodies polls to strengthen its base and has never called for dissolution of the opposition INDIA bloc or the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
Raut's remarks came a day after he cited the lack of opportunities for workers of respective parties in an alliance and the right to organisational growth as the major considerations for contesting solo, which raised a question mark over the opposition bloc's unity.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Raut said, "The MVA was formed for the assembly polls and INDIA bloc for the Lok Sabha elections. The local body elections are meant to empower party workers and strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level."
"I or my party have never said that the INDIA bloc or the MVA should be dissolved," the Rajya Sabha member added.
The INDIA bloc and MVA alliances include the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP).
Asked about the Congress leaders criticising him over comments regarding plans to go alone in the polls, Raut said the grand old party's members should listen to his full comments before reacting.
"The Congress leaders should have the habit of listening to others," he said.
Raut said the Shiv Sena (UBT) wants to ensure its 'flaming torch' (poll) symbol reaches voters at the grassroot level.
The MVA allies should now work at the booth-level to strengthen its parties and their workers, he said.
"We have time as there are four-and-a-half years for the next Lok Sabha and Maharashtra assembly elections," the Sena (UBT) leader said.
Asked about NCP (SP) head Sharad Pawar's discussion with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on bringing peace in Beed and Parbhani, Raut said Maharashtra is stunned after the assembly poll results.
"Peace cannot come by giving protection to the killers of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh and Somnath Suryavanshi," he said.
The brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district, on December 9 has triggered a slugfest between the ruling and opposition parties as one of the persons held in a related extortion case is a close associate of state minister Dhananjay Munde.
The incident has led to widespread protests in the state and also given rise to fears of a caste conflict since Deshmukh was a Maratha and some of those held hail from the Vanjari community.
Somnath Suryavanshi, who was arrested following violence in Parbhani on December 10 after a replica of the Constitution was vandalised, died on December 15 after he was rushed to a hospital from jail following sudden illness.
The ruling Mahayuti alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP won 230 of the state’s 288 seats in the November 2024 assembly polls, shrinking MVA's tally to 46 seats, with Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP (SP) each contributing 20, 16 and 10 seats, respectively.
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Vedavyas Kamath objects to restrictions on late-night religious events in Dakshina Kannada
Bengaluru: Mangaluru South MLA Vedavyas Kamath raised objections in the Assembly over police restrictions on holding religious programs beyond 10:30 pm in Dakshina Kannada district. He alleged that while the police cite court and government orders, such hurdles never existed when the BJP was in power.
“Even when there was a Supreme Court order restricting events beyond 10:30 pm, religious programs faced no obstacles during our government. Now, with the Congress government, these restrictions are creating problems. The government must ensure that laws or court orders do not come in the way of traditional religious celebrations,” Kamath said.
He pointed out that during the recent Sri Krishna Janmashtami celebrations, police seized sound systems for allegedly using loudspeakers above the permitted decibel level. Cases were also filed against event organizers and sound system owners. Kamath demanded that no such disruptions should occur during upcoming festivals like Dasara and Ganesh Chaturthi.
“Why are these restrictions being imposed only in Dakshina Kannada when no such issues exist in other districts?” he asked.
Responding to him, ruling party members remarked, “Other districts are peaceful; your district has disturbances. Maintain peace, and you too will get permission.”
Intervening in the debate, Speaker U.T. Khader said, “In this country, laws may be broken, but traditions cannot be broken. Since religious programs in every community often take place late at night, the government should step in to find a solution to the inconvenience faced by the people.”
