Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut congratulated both Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis on becoming the Maharashtra Chief Minister and deputy CM respectively.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut. (File Photo)
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Friday said that even though his party had political differences with the BJP, he would extend his wishes to the new Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Raut also congratulated the rebel Sena leader Eknath Shinde, who was appointed as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Thursday. Raut had earlier accused him of betraying the Shiv Sena.
“I congratulate Fadnavis. It’s our culture. This is our Maharashtra. So, at the time when a new government is being formed, I extend my best wishes. I also wish Eknath Shinde as well, because this is about Maharashtra and not about politics. So I hope he will do good work for the state. Shinde now has Fadnavis as his right-hand man.” said Raut.
When asked if he was being sarcastic by calling Fadnavis the right-hand man of Shinde, Raut said, “Fadnavis has more experience and both Shinde and Fadnavis will be each other’s right-hand man. Whether Fadnavis is happy or not doesn’t arise because he has to follow what the party leadership says.” said Raut.
Further commenting on Shinde and the BJP, the Shiv Sena leader said that it was a ploy to disintegrate the Sena. “I will not say that a Shiv sainik is a CM. The real Shiv sena is where Uddhav Thackeray is. What has BJP got now? This way or that way, the CM post is with Shiv Sena. If the BJP had done this in 2019, then the alliance would have remained,” he said.
Raut on Friday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to record his statement in connection with a money laundering probe.