Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut was back in characteristically candid form, weighing in openly on a string of political questions. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai on Monday, he touched on everything from the split within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to the strategy of the INDIA bloc, and issued a sharp warning to the rebel leaders who walked out of Mamata Banerjee's party.
Raut's Blunt Take on the TMC Split
Raut began by making it clear that the rift in Mamata Banerjee's party should now be treated as old news. His argument was that more than a month had already passed since the whole episode, which made any fresh discussion of it irrelevant. He instead steered attention towards what he saw as the real question — the conduct of those leaders who had dared to raise the banner of revolt against their own party's top leadership.
'Why Join a Party That Won Just 800 Votes'
Raut took a pointed jab at the choice the rebel leaders had made. According to him, those who left the TMC had tied up with a Tripura-based party that has no real existence of its own and is itself fighting a battle for survival in the political arena. Citing hard numbers, he pointed out that in a recent election this party had managed to secure only 800 votes. In Raut's words, exactly what kind of wisdom these leaders showed by latching on to such a sinking party is something only they can explain.
He also alleged a deliberate design behind the move. Raut claimed that Amit Shah had conspired to deliberately push these leaders into a party that is struggling to keep its own existence intact. How long this pattern would continue, he said, only time would tell.
'Mamata Banerjee's TMC Is the Real TMC'
Amid all this, Raut left no doubt about where he stood on Mamata Banerjee. He said he had no hesitation in declaring that the TMC led by Mamata Banerjee is the genuine TMC, and that no one should have any doubt about it. He added that the same situation would play out in Maharashtra in the days to come. Taking the rebels to task, Raut said that those who had abandoned the TMC for another party would soon discover the real truth about the BJP — particularly once they find themselves pushed to the sidelines.
Advice to the INDIA Bloc: Settle on a PM Face
During the interaction, Raut also spoke frankly about the INDIA bloc's strategy. He stressed that the alliance would have to decide on a single face for the post of Prime Minister. His reasoning was that if leaders go before the public without a PM face, voters will simply ask who their candidate for Prime Minister is — and at that point there would be no easy answer. That, Raut argued, is precisely why it is essential for the bloc to first agree on one face for the PM's post and only then move forward.
