Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Jun 4: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to engineer a split in the All India Trinamool Congress led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that the operation was being carried out with the backing of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and senior BJP leaders.

Addressing a press conference, Raut claimed that reports of rebellion within the Trinamool Congress were not the result of internal dissent but part of a broader political strategy aimed at weakening regional parties across the country.

“Mamata Banerjee's party is not breaking on its own. It is being broken. The individual being projected as the face of this rebellion cannot split a party of this size. The real force behind these developments is Amit Shah and BJP leaders who are using money and pressure tactics,” Raut alleged.

Drawing parallels with the 2022 split in Shiv Sena, Raut claimed that a similar formula was now being replicated in West Bengal. He alleged that the defection of Shiv Sena legislators led by Eknath Shinde was facilitated through pressure from central agencies and the involvement of BJP leaders.

“What happened to Shiv Sena in Maharashtra is now being repeated in West Bengal. First elections are fought using unfair means, and then efforts are made to break rival parties. This has become a pattern,” he said.

The Rajya Sabha member accused the BJP of pursuing a “one-party political system” by systematically targeting regional parties. He cited the split in Shiv Sena, the division within the Nationalist Congress Party and previous attempts to weaken other regional outfits, including the Lok Janshakti Party.

According to Raut, the BJP's objective is to ensure that no political force remains capable of challenging it in future elections.

“They want only one party to survive and rule the country. This is dangerous for democracy and the Constitution,” he said.

Raut further alleged that despite the completion of the West Bengal Assembly election process and the formation of the government, attempts were continuing to destabilise the Banerjee-led administration. He accused the BJP of using central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation to exert pressure on legislators.

Claiming to possess information regarding the alleged operation, Raut said legislators who switched sides in Maharashtra were offered financial inducements.

“As per the information available to me, MLAs who rebelled in Maharashtra were paid around Rs 50 crore each. In West Bengal, offers ranging from Rs 20 crore to Rs 25 crore are allegedly being made to legislators,” he claimed.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also named Suvendu Adhikari while alleging that money was being used to encourage defections in West Bengal.

Warning of long-term consequences, Raut said such political manoeuvres could weaken democratic institutions and undermine the country's constitutional framework.

“This is not good for democracy or the country. If elected governments and political parties are destabilised through money power and coercion, it will weaken democratic institutions,” he said.