Mumbai, June 19 (IANS) On the historic occasion of Shiv Sena’s 60th foundation day, the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of the Shiv Sena has been rocked by a massive crisis. A day after six Lok Sabha MPs triggered a second major split in the party within four years, moving to align themselves with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s faction, the Shiv Sena (UBT) MP and chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Friday launched a scathing attack on the dissident lawmakers, claiming that a late-night financial settlement had to be engineered to pacify them over a dispute regarding Cabinet berths.

“They stood in the market to sell themselves,” he said.

Refusing to term the exit a legitimate political split, Raut stated that the rebel MPs had simply auctioned their loyalty. “I do not consider this a split. A person leaves when they are bound to an ideology. When someone stands in the market to sell themselves and someone buys them, it is called trading, not a split. Our six people stood in the market two days ago, put a price tag on themselves, and were bought over. They haven’t left because of some great revolutionary thought,” he said.

He heavily targeted the rebel MPs—Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, and Omprakash Rajenimbalkar—who skipped a crucial parliamentary meeting in Delhi despite a strict three-line party whip.

Explaining why the six MPs have not yet returned to Mumbai, Raut alleged that internal fighting broke out over who would get a ministerial berth in the Union government.

According to Raut, a compromise was reached in the dead of night to resolve the chaos. To pacify the remaining five disgruntled MPs, an additional payout of Rs 25 crore each has been promised over the next year on the condition that they do not create a public scene, he claimed. “They are currently hiding in holes under heavy police protection,” Raut alleged.

“If you haven’t committed a crime or a sin, why do you need an entire police fleet? Is Maharashtra’s Home Department only meant to protect traitors while crimes against women rise?”

The political heat extended to the alliance partners as well. Raut took a swipe at a senior BJP leader, mockingly referring to him as the “Jamner chi Mavshi” (the aunt from Jamner, an apparent dig at BJP leader and Maharashtra water resources minister Girish Mahajan) for claiming that the MPs left because Uddhav Thackeray associated with the Congress.

“These BJP leaders act like the Mavshi (supporting character) in a Tamasha (folk theater). When these six MPs won their elections, it was with the help of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and Congress workers. Didn’t you know Congress was part of the alliance then? Why this sudden hatred for the Congress?” Raut questioned, challenging the BJP’s nationalist credentials by asking if any of their leaders had sacrificed their lives for India’s Independence.

Raut further threatened that if enforcement agencies like the ED and CBI were neutralised for just half an hour, “the BJP in Maharashtra would break into seven pieces,” with Girish Mahajan being the first to desert.

With both the Thackeray and Shinde factions hosting separate high-decibel events for the Shiv Sena Foundation Day, the Thackeray camp has already initiated disciplinary actions, serving show-cause notices to the six absent MPs to cancel their parliamentary memberships.

Daring the rebels to face the electorate honestly, Raut concluded, “If you have even an ounce of shame left, resign from your MP posts. You won on our party symbol because Uddhav Thackeray and ordinary party workers spilled their sweat and blood for you. You took false oaths in the name of your parents, Sai Baba, and Goddess Bhavani—now show some courage, resign, and face the public openly.”

–IANS

sj/rad