Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday strongly asserted that a large majority of councilors in Mumbai are supporting a non-BJP mayor, and asserted that the party’s “Shiv Sainiks” do not want to see a BJP candidate in the post.
Speaking to the media, Raut said that many new faces among the councilors are expressing support for the non-BJP leader.
He said, “Everyone has decided that a BJP mayor should not be allowed. Let’s see what happens next. There are many new faces among the councilors. They are Shiv Sainiks and they do not want a BJP mayor.”
Raut said, “No matter how isolated they are, today there are many means of communication; the message will reach somewhere. If God willing, a Shiv Sena mayor can also be elected. Let me tell you a historical truth – no matter how big the majority is, it is unstable; it keeps changing.”
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader accused Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of acting like a “puppet” of the BJP and questioned whether he would accept someone from Amit Shah’s party as mayor.
Raut further said, “Will Fadnavis accept that someone from Amit Shah’s party be elected mayor? Fadnavis is behaving like a puppet.”
Raut expressed skepticism over the discussion on investment during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, saying such announcements rarely materialize, especially during elections. He said, “They make announcements, but no investment comes. The investment situation is different at the time of elections.”
Raut further emphasized that the mayor belonged to the Shiv Sena, and not the “fake” Shiv Sena, and criticized the alleged imprisonment of 29 councillors.
He said, “The state is theirs, yet the councilors are being kept imprisoned. It is Eknath Shinde, who calls himself “brother”, who has kept the councilors imprisoned. The mayor is from Shiv Sena, not fake Shiv Sena. He is Amit Shah’s army.”
Sanjay Raut said, “On Balasaheb’s birth centenary, we want and should have a Shiv Sena mayor—we will ensure it. But Shinde has handed over Mumbai to the BJP. Imprisoning 29 councilors is a strangulation of Marathi pride. No one will care about it except Eknath Shinde.”
On the vote split caused by Congress, Raut expressed confidence that the party will form an alliance with Shiv Sena (UBT) in future.
Describing the Congress as a “national party”, he said, “Congress is a national party; it takes independent decisions. It benefited the BJP, but the Congress will be with us in the future. Congratulations to them, they got seats. They have strength in Mumbai. Their seats are with us – to fight against the BJP.”