Sanjay Raut alleges BJP‑backed political buying to split Shiv Sena

Shiv Sena senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut wrote in his weekly column “Rokthok” that recent talks of Shiv Sena MPs leaving the party are not driven by ideological differences but by political opportunism. He charged the BJP and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde with orchestrating large‑scale “political buying” and deal‑making to induce defections, saying the move is intended to secure power and benefits rather than serve constituents.

Raut compared the alleged defections to historic betrayals, calling them a betrayal of the voter mandate earned through Shiv Sena’s ticket, cadre work and Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership. He warned that such transactions erode democratic values and threaten accountability, urging the public to hold politicians to their promises.