New Delhi:
After stitching alliance with the Congress and NCP in Maharashtra to form the government, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday hinted at joining the UPA at the Centre. Speaking to news agency ANI after the oath-taking of newly elected MLAs, Raut said, "I have been saying this from the first day that we will form government. I have said that our suryayaan will land safely on the sixth floor of the mantralaya (secretariat). But everyone was laughing at us. Now our suryayaan has landed safely….People shouldn't be surprised if Sena's suryayaan lands in Delhi.
When asked about Ajit Pawar joining hands with the BJP, Raut, “The role of Ajit Pawar is clear. When he took oath on Saturday as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, I said that he will return. I have also said that one would have to take 100 years to understand," he said.
Ajit Pawar had ditched his uncle and NCP chief Sharad Pawar and formed government with the BJP but quit after three days, forcing Devendra Fadnavis to resign as the chief minister. Sanjay Raut is considered the main man who convinced Sharad Pawar to join Shiv Sena and form government in the state. He was seen dashing from one leader’s house to another in order to stitch an anti-BJP coalition in the state.
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During the negotiations with the NCP and Congress, when Sharad Pawar was keeping his cards close to his chest, Raut had made a crucial statement about him and said that it would take 100 years to understand Sharad Pawar.
After quitting the NDA at Centre and going with the Congress in Maharashtra, there is strong buzz in the political circles that the Sena will now join the anti-BJP UPA coalition at the Centre as well. Recently, Shiv Sena MPs had met Sonia Gandhi at her official residence in Delhi to inform her that they will join the Opposition and boycott the joint sitting of Parliament called to commemorate the Constitution Day to protest against the political developments in Maharashtra.
