Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday dismissed speculation that the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) could support the Centre’s proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill on constituency delimitation and move closer to the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.
Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, Raut said the rumours were politically motivated and were being deliberately spread by the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena to create confusion within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
Political circles have been abuzz with reports that the Centre may introduce a Constitutional Amendment Bill on constituency delimitation during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. The speculation has also fuelled claims that the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) could align with the BJP and become part of the Mahayuti government.
Rejecting these claims, Raut said there was no truth to the reports.
Referring to NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil’s meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the latter’s official residence, Varsha, on Tuesday, Raut said incomplete information was being used to fuel unnecessary speculation.
“There are rumours that Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel were also present during the meeting. As far as I know, Praful Patel is abroad for the FIFA World Cup, which he usually attends. So he was not part of the meeting,” Raut said.
He clarified that Jayant Patil had met the Chief Minister to raise concerns over the disqualification of an elected municipal council president from Islampur, who, according to him, was removed illegally by the district administration.
“Jayant Patil met the Chief Minister to complain about that issue. He is a senior leader of the NCP and the MVA. Linking that meeting to political realignment is baseless,” Raut said.
He further alleged that rumours about leaders from the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP were being spread deliberately to weaken the opposition alliance.
Raut also claimed that NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule was equally surprised by the reports. “I spoke to her in detail today. She will address the media and clarify the party’s stand,” he said.
On the proposed delimitation legislation, Raut said the MVA would decide its position only after the Bill is officially introduced in Parliament.
“We will take a call after studying the Bill. But the allegations that the Centre is trying to secure a majority by engineering defections from opposition parties have no basis,” he said.
Meanwhile, sources have claimed that if the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill includes a 50 per cent increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) may support it.
According to the speculation, the proposal was discussed during an all-party meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. There are also reports suggesting that, apart from the NCP (SP), the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and the DMK had expressed broad support for such a proposal. However, there has been no official confirmation from these parties.
Parliament’s Monsoon Session is scheduled to begin on Monday. Supriya Sule is expected to address a press conference later on Wednesday to clarify her party’s position on the issue.
