Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday called for Opposition unity in Maharashtra, urging Congress leaders, particularly its Marathi leadership, to recognise the “impending danger Mumbai is facing” and work together to defeat the BJP in the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, reported the PTI.
Sanjay Raut’s comments followed recent remarks by Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap, who said the party would contest the civic polls independently, ruling out any alliance with either Shiv Sena (UBT) or the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
Speaking to reporters, Sanjay Raut said that the Opposition must come together to “save Mumbai” and prevent it from “falling into the jaws of Adani group.”
He reminded Congress leaders of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, when all parties united to protect Marathi-speaking regions and secure the creation of Maharashtra state, according to the PTI.
“The Congress is our ally in the INDIA bloc and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). These alliances are not built around a single party; the Congress is a vital part of them,” Sanjay Raut said.
He added that if Shiv Sena (UBT) were to discuss pre-poll alliances, the talks would be held with the central Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, K. C. Venugopal, and Ramesh Chennithala — not with state-level leaders.
Sanjay Raut stressed that Opposition unity was essential to protect democracy, the Constitution, and the interests of the Marathi manoos (Marathi-speaking people). He claimed the INDIA bloc was formed with the aim of making Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister, as per the PTI.
Taking a swipe at the Congress, Raut also pointed to the ongoing seat-sharing tussle within the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, where the Congress and RJD are contesting against each other.
“Is there a Raj or Uddhav Thackeray in Bihar?” he asked sarcastically, implying that local differences within alliances were not unique to Maharashtra, the news agency reported.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), faces a crucial test in the BMC elections, viewed as a prestige battle for control over India’s richest civic body.
(with PTI inputs)
