Raut alleges MPs are being offered Rs 50 crore to defect, dares Sena (UBT) dissidents to resign first

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has alleged that opposition MPs are being offered bribes of Rs 50 crore to defect. Raut dared any potential dissidents within his party to resign first and contest fresh by-elections

Mumbai: Amid heightened speculation about an imminent split in the Shiv Sena (UBT), party leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday alleged that some MPs from Maharashtra were being offered Rs 50 crore to switch sides, and challenged dissidents to quit.

Holding a press conference in New Delhi, Raut said the people of Maharashtra and Shiv Sena (UBT) workers would not remain quiet if there was another split in the Uddhav Thackeray-led party which saw a major rebellion led by Eknath Shinde in 2022.

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Even as Raut adopted an aggressive tone, the fact that only three out of the nine Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha members — Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje — attended the press conference suggested that the party was facing a grave crisis.

An “important person” informed him late Tuesday night that efforts were underway to “buy” MPs from Maharashtra, said Raut, a Rajya Sabha member.

“I was told that the rate is Rs 50 crore, and Rs 15 crore each would be delivered by tonight. They (dissident MPs) were allegedly unwilling to board the aircraft (for Delhi) without receiving the money,” he said.

The party, however, had no official information about any split, and the reports about some MPs being on the verge of breaking away were appearing only in the media, Raut said.

“If parties are being broken in this manner, fighting elections is meaningless,” he said.

All Sena (UBT) MPs were elected on the party’s “mashal” (torch) symbol under Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership, and “nobody has the right to betray that mandate”, Raut said.

Warning of a strong response, he said Maharashtra and the Sena (UBT) workers would not remain silent if there was a repeat of the events of 2022 when the undivided Shiv Sena split.

“If anybody wants to leave, they should first resign. They have entered Parliament on our party’s ticket,” he added.

Raut, who has been camping in Delhi since getting indications of an imminent defection, further said the party had initiated legal measures and issued a whip ahead of a meeting of its parliamentary party scheduled for Thursday.

It had also written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, urging him to act strictly in accordance with the constitutional provisions, he said.

During the press conference, Raut also lost his cool and used expletives against rebel MPs twice without naming anyone. He asked the media “not to cut” or mute that part.

Notably, this is not the first time that Raut has used expletives at a press conference or in media interactions. He had asked mediapersons not to cut his expletives or mute them during the broadcast on such occasions.

Arvind Sawant, who represents Mumbai (South) in the Lok Sabha, said none of the MPs had officially informed the party about any decision to leave, and all reports were emerging from the media and social media.

MP Anil Desai said the party’s faith in its MPs remained intact, but legal safeguards were being put in place as a precaution.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders alleged that the practice of “buying and breaking” elected representatives posed a threat to democracy and the Constitution.

On Sunday, only four of the nine Sena (UBT) MPs physically attended a meeting called by Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai. Four others attended it online, while another MP spoke to Thackeray over phone, according to the party. The physical absence of five MPs despite express directives to the attend the meeting gave indications that trouble was brewing for the Thackeray-led party.

During the meeting, Raut said, one of the MPs swore by Sai Baba, another swore by the Goddess Bhavani, and some others swore on their children and mothers, saying they would remain with Uddhav Thackeray.

“We spent our blood and sweat for these MPs. We gave them tickets and whatever financial help we could. If such reports (about defection) are true, they should deny them,” he said.

These MPs were elected because of Uddhav Thackeray and late (Shiv Sena founder) Bal Thackeray, not because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, said Raut.

“We have issued a whip and convened our parliamentary party meeting. We have also written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Buying and breaking elected representatives is against democracy and the Constitution. A legal battle will follow. It is not so easy. Anyone who thinks that a few people can gather and settle matters through money is mistaken,” he said.

Alleging pressure on Dharashiv MP Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar, Raut noted that the verdict in the 20-year-old murder case of the MP’s father was earlier scheduled to be delivered on Wednesday.

“He (Nimbalkar) was allegedly told that if he wanted a favourable verdict in the murder case of his father, he should join their group,” Raut claimed, noting that the verdict was now likely to be pronounced on Saturday.

“If such things are happening, what remains of the (sanctity of) Constitution, the courts and democracy? Tomorrow’s parliamentary party meeting will reveal the situation. Everyone has been invited and everyone should attend,” Raut said.

The Sena (UBT) leader further said, “Whatever the party has given us, we cannot forget. Balasaheb Thackeray treated us like sons and Uddhav Thackeray has always treated us like brothers.”