Mumbai, June 30 (IANS) Uddhav Thackeray faction MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday criticised party legislator Sachin Ahir’s move to jump to the Eknath Shinde camp, saying why grieve those who had joined the party for selfishness.

Taking to social media platform X, Raut subtly targeted those leaving the party by sharing the poetic lines: “Why should we even hope for four rays of light? Why should we wait for those who were never truly ours?” Following up on the remark, he launched a harsher critique, stating, “Why should we grieve the departure of those who enter the party with a bug of selfishness and dishonesty already inside them?”

Raut’s reaction has once again heated up the state’s political climate, with observers closely watching for subsequent reactions to these events.

Further, expressing intense frustration, Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray targeted Sachin Ahir over his departure, questioning what more could have been provided.

“We have been observing this for the past four days, and indeed for the last four years—those who are closest and have received everything are the very ones leaving for their own selfish interests. Therefore, there is nothing surprising or shocking about this. Regions like Worli or Sewri have always been bastions of the Shiv Sena and remain so. Someone coming or going does not deal a blow to us,” Aaditya Thackeray said.

He further added, “It is not as if they couldn’t speak with me. Whether it was the ward committee, BEST, the post of deputy leader in Shiv Sena, or the union presidency—there was daily interaction and communication. This begs the question, what more do you want? Is it a case where we weren’t meeting, as others often complain? That wasn’t the case either; we were always together. So, how much more will you snatch away, and what more are we supposed to do? Should we now perform ritual prayers for you every day?”

However, Ahir strongly refuted these charges, saying, “It is unfortunate that as long as we were together, we were seen as good, but the moment we part ways, we are labelled unworthy. I will respond to this criticism at the appropriate political forum.”

Ahir, who was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, was speaking at the press conference.

Responding to Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut’s allegation that he had joined the party for selfish interests, Ahir countered, “Was I not selfish when I joined their group earlier? If I wasn’t then, why am I now? I have always strived to fulfil the responsibilities entrusted to me by Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray with full dedication.”

He reiterated, “It is unfortunate that the moment you are no longer with them, you are labelled as worthless. What can one say when those who have never even picked up a stone on the ground start lecturing others?”

Ahir claimed he worked vigorously during UBT for strengthening the party organisation in Pune district, which was assigned to him for organisational work. In addition, he said that he tried to give the best during his tenure as the corporator, legislator and minister.

–IANS

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