Sanjay Raut's post on dogs and loyalty amid revolt by Sena MPs
Firebrand Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut took sharp jabs at rebel party MPs on Saturday, posting a cryptic message on social media as the
Firebrand Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut took sharp jabs at rebel party MPs on Saturday, posting a cryptic message on social media as the Uddhav Thackeray-led outfit grappled with a fresh rebellion that threatens its future. Raut shared an image on X carrying the Hindi message, "Kuch log kuttey toh hoty hain, lekin wafa’daar nahi hoty" (Some people may be dogs, but they are not loyal), along with the caption, "Jai Maharashtra!" Read Full Story The post came amid growing speculation that six of the Uddhav Sena’s nine Lok Sabha MPs are preparing to defect to the ruling Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde under ‘Operation Tiger’.
The latest revolt marks the second existential crisis for the party in four years after Shinde's rebellion split the original Shiv Sena in 2022. Raut, never one to mince words, has launched a sustained offensive against the dissident MPs, branding them “traitors,” mocking their actions and warning those who abandon the party of dire consequences. At a press conference earlier this week, Raut alleged that rebel lawmakers had been offered up to Rs 50 crore each to switch sides. In an expletive-filled tirade, he also warned that the party would launch ‘Operation Tudwa’ (bash up) against those looking to switch sides. Signs of an imminent split became clear on Thursday when six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs skipped a crucial parliamentary party meeting in Mumbai, fuelling buzz that a formal crossover to the Shinde-led Sena, a BJP ally, could be imminent.
Shinde hinted as much, saying on Friday, "Yeh to sirf trailer hai, picture abhi baaki hai." The MPs who stayed away were Nagesh Aashtikar, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Dina Patil, Omprakash Rajenimbalkar and Bhausaheb Wakchaure. In his first public reaction to the crisis, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray launched a blistering attack on the rebel faction, accusing them of betraying the very people who helped them secure victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. “Once again, we are witnessing a shocking example of filthy politics. These shameless, ungrateful, and corrupt individuals who won in 2024 because of certain people are now betraying them,” Thackeray said in a post on X.
He added that Maharashtra would not tolerate such politics and said, “No matter how many excuses they gave, the truth is that they have shamelessly sold themselves out.” The brewing revolt has raised fresh questions over the strength of the Uddhav Thackeray camp and could significantly weaken the party's presence in Parliament if the defections materialise. Ends
The BriefWire