Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Nov 10: A visit by Maharashtra Transport Minister and Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik to the Bhandup residence of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has triggered political speculation, given the bitter rivalry between the two factions of the Shiv Sena.
Sarnaik, who belongs to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, clarified that he had visited Raut's residence to meet his mother, who has known him for several years and traditionally sends him sweets during Diwali.
“Sunil Raut and Sanjay Raut's mother has known me for many years. Every Diwali, she sends me laddoos. I could not visit her one year in between. Last month, she fell and underwent an operation. When I called her, she invited me to visit during Diwali,” Sarnaik said.
“I had not gone to meet Sanjay Raut, but his mother,” he added.
Asked about meeting Sanjay Raut during the visit, Sarnaik said he had assumed the MP would have left home by 10 am. However, Raut was present and the two met.
“Sanjay Raut is a national leader. We worked together when the Shiv Sena was united. I have a family relationship with him. When people from politics meet, political discussions are bound to happen. But I will not tell you what we discussed,” Sarnaik said.
On the possibility of the two Shiv Sena factions coming together, the minister said anything could happen in politics, but there was no such discussion at present.
“We are constituents of the NDA. Our government is functioning smoothly. We have a strong majority and are achieving several things through development. We are also helping farmers against the backdrop of drought conditions,” he said.
Sarnaik added that, following an appeal by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Shiv Sainiks were visiting farmers and extending assistance to them to ensure they could celebrate Diwali.
He referred to Shinde's visit to Jalna, where the chief minister had shared a traditional meal of pithla-bhakri at a farmer's home. Sarnaik said the government was making efforts to bring happiness to farmers during the festival. He also noted that the Prime Minister had appreciated the chief minister's gesture of visiting a farmer's home.
Responding to a question on whether the sweetness of the Diwali laddoos could translate into political reconciliation, Sarnaik stressed that his relationship with the Raut family was personal.
“The sweetness of a mother's laddoos is different,” he said, adding that Sanjay Raut's mother was 87 years old. He said he had wished her well and told her that he hoped to celebrate her 100th birthday.
Sarnaik also praised Sanjay and Sunil Raut for the respect and affection they showed their mother, saying he admired the way they cared for her despite their positions in public life.