BJP used Eknath Shinde to take Mumbai from Shiv Sena: Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said the BJP used Eknath Shinde to take Mumbai away from the Shiv Sena of Bal Thackeray. Shinde has just replaced Uddhav Thackeray as Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

After Shinde led a rebellion in the name of Hindutva and demanded that Shiv Sena break alliance with NCP and Congress and join hands with BJP, party chief Uddhav Thackery stepped down from the post of CM. As BJP has the next majority, it has allied with Shiv Sena. Shinde has taken oath as Maharashtra CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as deputy CM.

Following the rebellion, Shiv Sena head Uddhav Thackeray removed Shinde from the post of leader based on "indulging in anti-party activities".

Sanjay Raut told the media that Thackeray made it clear yesterday that Shinde doesn't belong to Shiv Sena. "It is now clear that Shinde has been used to defeat Shiv Sena in Mumbai, where civic polls will be held later this year".

Soon after taking charge as CM, Shinde overturned the previous government's decision to not cut any trees in the Aarey forest area for the construction of a metro car shed. Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis is now gearing up to build the proposed Metro-3 car shed in the Aarey colony.

The colony, spread over 13,000 hectares, is home to over 27 Adivasi villages and various animal species. Shiv Sena has ruled the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for over two decades.

Raut said Shiv Sena is where Thackeray is. The MP added that he too was "given the offer" to go to Guwahati and join the rebel camp. He turned down the offer as he followed the Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray.

He added that the Congress was split several times, but the Congress of Indira Gandhi still survives. BJP wants to destroy Shiv Sena from Mumbai and Maharashtra. But it did not happen, the Shiv Sena MP further said.

The new government has been asked to prove its majority in the State Assembly on Monday. Raut stated: "When the truth is on your side, why fear?"

He added that it is difficult to associate former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as Deputy Chief Minister. "He won't get a CM seat from Central. Deputy CM word from my mouth did not suit him but it was their internal matter I won't speak on this".

Sanjay Raut was questioned by the ED in connection with a money-laundering probe linked to the re-development of a Mumbai 'chawl' (tenement). When asked about the matter, he said the central agency treated him well and interrogated him for 10 hours. "I told them if any more information is required, I would submit. There is no need to fear as I haven't done anything wrong. Truth is with me".