‘Deals and transactions worth ₹ 2000 crore for party name & symbol’
New Delhi:
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said he is confident that “deals and transactions worth ₹ 2000 crore” have been done so far, in six months, to get the Shiv Sena party name and symbol. 40 MLAs who defected from the party last year, amid huge chaos that resulted in a regime change, were given ₹ 50 crore each, he said.
“This is an initial figure and is 100% true. Soon there will be many revelations. This has never happened before in the country’s history,” he tweeted in Hindi.
In a huge setback for his party, the Election Commission on Friday allotted the party name “Shiv Sena” and the symbol ‘bow and arrow’ to the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray, toppled his government by taking away most of his MLAs, and joined forces with the BJP last year.
Uddhav Thackeray’s father Bal Thackeray founded the outfit in 1966.
Mr Raut has been claiming the Uddhav Thackeray faction is the ‘real’ Shiv Sena, and his party has also approached the Supreme Court. In another tweet, he said the Election Commission’s order ‘does not inspire confidence’.
“A Constitutional Body with quasi judicial powers should not only be impartial but ALSO APPEAR TO BE AWAY FROM ANY INFLUENCE. Unfortunately ECI Order doesnot inspire confidence.
BJP has no scruples & can go to any extreme to safeguard its investment of 2000 Crs (40 MLAX 50 Cr),” he tweeted.
The Shinde camp has dismissed the charge.
“Is Sanjay Raut a cashier?” MLA Sada Sarvankar from the Shinde camp said.
I’ve informed the nation, that the way the Shiv Sena name and party symbol were snatched from us, is not justice, or truth. It’s a business. It was bought…This decision has been bought,” Mr Raut said.
