While talking to reporters, Sanjay Raut said he had previously worked with Devendra Fadnavis, and his initiatives for Naxal-infested Gadchiroli should be appreciated.
In a rare show of political bonhomie, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Friday made a statement welcoming Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after 11 Naxals surrendered before the BJP leader in Gadchiroli. According to him, he has been associated with Chief Minister Fadnavis in the past. His initiatives taken for Gadchiroli when Naxals tormented it should be praised.
In the Saamna editorial praising Fadnavis, Raut said, “We have praised him as the government has done a good job. We welcome that if the Naxalites surrendered and opted for the constitutional path. The earlier ‘guardian minister’ could have done that, but instead, he appointed his agents and collected money that increased Naxalism. We have worked with Devendra Fadnavis, and that relationship continues.”
The Shiv Sena was the BJP’s oldest ally until it severed its ties with the party in 2019 when a disagreement over the chief minister’s post occurred. In 2022, the Shiv Sena also faced a split when a group of MLAs, led by Eknath Shinde, revolted and formed an alliance with the BJP.
Raut’s lavish praise for Fadnavis comes at a time when speculation about a possible reconciliation between Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and his uncle Sharad Pawar is rife. The rumour gained further currency after Ajit Pawar’s mother said on Wednesday that she prayed for the reunion of the Pawar family.
