Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Monday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is fostering parallel leadership within the Shiv Sena through industries minister Uday Samant.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut supported these claims, stating that Samant has the backing of 20 Shiv Sena MLAs. Samant, known for his close ties with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, dismissed the allegations as baseless.
The accusations emerge amid growing discontent within the Shiv Sena. On Saturday, the Maharashtra government announced a list of district guardian ministers, excluding senior Shiv Sena ministers Dada Bhuse and Bharat Gogawale.
This omission caused discontent, with Gogawale openly expressing his dissatisfaction. The situation intensified when deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde visited his native village, Dare, in Satara, sparking speculation about his unease with the decision.
This isn’t the first time Shinde has demonstrated dissatisfaction. In December, during discussions on cabinet positions, Shinde reportedly traveled to his village after being denied the home portfolio. The BJP eventually resolved the situation by conceding the portfolio to him.
Commenting on the unfolding tensions, Wadettiwar claimed, “They sidelined Uddhav Thackeray to bring Shinde to prominence, and now they’re doing the same to Shinde. A new ‘Uday’ is being prepared.”
He questioned the BJP’s reliance on Shinde, particularly after the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) suffered a heavy defeat in the recent state elections.
Raut added that the BJP, tired of Shinde’s “tantrums and sulking,” plans to replace him with Samant. He alleged that similar plans had been made when Shinde initially resisted the deputy chief minister role.
Samant, currently in Davos with Fadnavis for the World Economic Forum, rejected these claims in a video statement, calling them “politically immature.” He emphasized his loyalty to Shinde, crediting him with shaping his political career.
“Attempts to divide us will fail,” Samant said, accusing Wadettiwar of spreading falsehoods and sowing discord. He further alleged that Wadettiwar had approached Fadnavis with attempts to join the BJP.
Samant’s political trajectory includes a steady rise from his days as an NCP MLA under Sharad Pawar to his current prominence. Initially a Thackeray loyalist, he switched to Shinde’s faction during the 2022 rebellion, securing his position within the Mahayuti government.
His brother, Kiran Samant, has also made political strides, defeating veteran Sena leader Rajan Salvi in Rajapur during recent elections.
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