Raut Rules Out Need for Alliances in Local Maharashtra Polls
Mumbai: Senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has said that major alliances like INDIA or the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) are not required for the upcoming civic and local body elections in Maharashtra.
Speaking to the media in Mumbai, Raut clarified that such coalitions were relevant for larger elections like the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, but not for municipal polls. “The MVA was specifically created for the Maharashtra Assembly polls, and INDIA bloc was for the general elections. Civic polls are a different ballgame,” he explained.
Raut also acknowledged increasing public sentiment in favour of a joint contest between Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). However, he noted that any formal decision would be taken after the local poll schedule is officially announced.
“I have not said that Shiv Sena and MNS will contest together. What I have said is there’s growing demand from the people for a joint front,” Raut clarified.
Maharashtra is expected to hold civic body elections later this year, including in the powerful Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which was ruled by the undivided Shiv Sena for nearly 20 years before the 2022 split.
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray recently shared the stage at the ‘Awaj Marathicha’ event in Mumbai, which celebrated the cancellation of two controversial government decisions that had introduced Hindi as a third language from Class 1 in state-run schools. The rollback was seen as a victory for Marathi linguistic identity.
On a separate note, Raut also commented on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent remarks referencing veteran Sangh ideologue Moropant Pinglay. Bhagwat had quoted Pinglay’s principle of stepping aside after the age of 75 — a statement Raut interpreted as a subtle signal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will turn 75 in September.
During a book launch in Nagpur, Bhagwat had said, “When the shawl of 75 years is draped over you, it means you’ve reached a certain age and should step aside for others to take over.”
Raut viewed this as an important message from within the Sangh Parivar and suggested it should be taken seriously at the highest levels of government.
