Mumbai, July 1 (IANS) Launching a scathing attack on party legislator and deputy leader Sachin Ahir for his switch, Shiv Sen (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said that Ahir left them in the dark, dropping a stone on their heads while they were asleep.
“Even if you call this your political journey, history will remember it as a tainted one. If you choose to leave even after being given everything, it means political greed is destroying you. Try poaching workers who desire absolutely nothing. A kind of decay and degradation is underway in the state,” Raut said.
He further observed that loyal party workers who stand by the organisation through thick and thin have become a rarity.
The remarks by Raut came a day after Ahir jumped the ship to join the Shinde camp and filed his nomination for the post of Maharashtra Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson.
Recalling Ahir’s political trajectory, Raut told reporters that Ahir’s career had hit a roadblock after his defeat by Sunil Shinde. However, Aaditya Thackeray revived his political future by making him an MLC, appointing him as a deputy leader, making him the working president of the Bhartiya Kamgar Sena, and handing over the entire responsibility of Pune district to him.
“Sachin Ahir was an extremely close associate of Aaditya Thackeray. He cannot claim that no one was meeting him or listening to him, because Aaditya Thackeray and Uddhav Saheb met him daily,” Raut asserted.
When asked if Sachin Ahir’s defection would increase difficulties for Aaditya Thackeray in the Worli Assembly constituency, Raut remarked that contentment is crucial for any human being.
Raut made a candid statement raising questions about the party’s current predicament and admitted, “For our political future, all of us need to engage in introspection.”
Ahir had sent a message to his colleagues stating, “Leaving the party is my compulsion. I am doing this for my future journey and prospects.”
Reacting to this, Raut questioned, “If this is the case, then for whom should the common grassroots worker toil?”
Raut further noted that Ahir had previously abandoned NCP chief Sharad Pawar in a similar manner for his career.
“Pawar Saheb lifted him from the dust to the skies, made him the MHADA chief, a minister for several years, and the Mumbai NCP President. Yet, he suddenly left Sharad Pawar and his family blindsided to join the Shiv Sena. If he couldn’t remain loyal to Sharad Pawar, how could he be loyal to us? These are not original Shiv Sainiks. A party is always built by its core, original Shiv Sainiks. The rest are just fair-weather passengers who come and go. What Sunil Shinde said is correct — we all need to introspect now,” he stated.
Showing Ahir a mirror, Raut described his political journey as “blemished.”
“Sachin Ahir caught Sharad Pawar off guard when he joined the Shiv Sena back then. Making Ahir a minister in those days was a massive gamble. The Thackeray family and the Shiv Sena showered him with love. Yet, keeping them in the dark, he left like someone dropping a stone on your head while you sleep,” Raut lambasted the leader.
“Sachin Ahir values no loyalty. Where has he gone now, and what more will they give him? Perhaps a candidature from somewhere. But his political road map is riddled with potholes. It feels bad that he left, but he shouldn’t have done this after receiving respect, status, and positions,” commented Raut.
Taking a swipe at Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Raut added, “When someone defects despite being given everything, Eknath Shinde breaks into a wicked laugh, resembling Ravana.”
Referring to the wider rift, Raut concluded by pointing out that out of the six MPs who split from the party, five were originally from the Congress.
–IANS
sj/rad