Shiv Sena to hold CM’s post for full term of MVA govt: Sanjay Raut

New Delhi, June 13: Dispelling all speculation of disgruntlement within the MVA, Shiv Sena's chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Sunday clarified that Uddhav Thackeray will serve a full term as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and there is no question of sharing the top post.

"It is a rumour that Shiv Sena CM will be replaced after 2.5 years. When 3 parties formed govt, they committed and decided that CM will be Uddhav Thackeray for 5 years. If someone talks about this, then it is nothing but lie and rumour," Sanjay Raut said in Nashik today.

Responding to Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole's statement that the Congress might fight local elections seperately, Raut said that all are free to take strengthen their party.

"It is not a merger but an alliance of 3 parties and all are free to expand/strengthen their party. We don't have any commitment to contest every election together. In local polls, local leaders take the decision. We only strategize for Lok Sabha & state elections," he said.

The Shiv Sena, which was one of the oldest allies of the BJP, had forged an unlikely alliance with the NCP and the Congress after the 2019 state polls to form the MVA government, after parting ways with the BJP over the issue of sharing the chief minister's post.

To a question on poll strategist Prashant Kishor's recent meeting with NCP chief Sharad Pawar, the Sena's Rajya Sabha member said Kishor has met several political leaders before and has worked even for Narendra Modi.

If all opposition parties come together to put up a good fight against Narendra Modi in 2024, what's wrong in that? he said. To a question on BJP leader Devendra fadnavis remarks that Modi will be re-elected in 2024, Raut responded saying, When did we say that it will not happen. Fadnavis is just putting forth his party's stand."

Modi is the top leader of the BJP. If all opposition parties come together to put up a formidable fight against Modi, what's wrong, he asked.

Can't say what will happen in politics. In West Bengal assembly polls, media says Modi and (Amit) Shah lost and not the BJP, he said.