Amit Shah will destroy Eknath Shinde’s Sena, says Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Monday (December 1, 2025) launched a scathing attack on the ruling Mahayuti alliance and targeted Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, saying, “BJP leader Amit Shah will be the one to destroy them… at least 35 MLAs will split”.

Mr. Raut pointed out that Delhi and Mr. Shah will “gut” the Shinde-led Sena, and that the foundation is already being laid. “To take out Shinde, they will conduct a similar operation as they did with the undivided Shiv Sena. The BJP appointed Ravindra Chavan from Dombivli, the state president, for the same reason. He knows politics. The BJP has a record of backstabbing; they did it with Bal Thackeray.”

Amid the tensions between the two allies of Mahayuti — the BJP and Shiv Sena — over the upcoming local body elections, Mr. Chavan stated that he needs to sustain the alliance until December 2. This created a political storm in the state and raised speculations that the alliance between the BJP and Shiv Sena would collapse.

Mr. Raut, who had been absent from the public sphere for a month due to his health concerns, addressed the media and criticised the BJP for destroying the culture and fabric of Maharashtra’s elections, making them money-oriented.

Election is all about competition among the Mahayuti alliance

“In the last five years, under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, crores of rupees have been spent on elections, which has disrupted the culture of elections. The State CM and the government never got involved at the grassroots level of elections. The party functionaries fought at their own levels,” he said.

Emphasising the flood of money spent in the elections, Mr. Raut alleged that at least five or six helicopters have been used in the Nagar Palika and Nagar Panchayat elections. For the constituency, he claimed that a budget of at least ₹15-20 crore has been allocated. He further asserted that one vote is sold for ₹10,000-15,000.

Mr. Raut also slammed the Chief Minister, stating that if his policy is one of zero tolerance for corruption, then he should have dismissed his minister, Gulabrao Patil, who said, “We have urban development with me, so there is no need to worry about money. If he takes action, then we can truly say he is the leader of the State.”

Earlier, Mr. Patil also said, “Sleep outside the house on December 1, Laxmi (money) will come to you”. The Nagar Parishad and Nagar Panchayat elections will be held on December 2. Mr. Raut asked the Election Commission to take action on such statements.

He also called local body elections “competition among the Mahayuti alliance” and a way to show “who is big”.

‘MNS is important to take down the BJP’

Mr. Raut confirmed that the seat-sharing talks are ongoing between Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), saying, “The trio of industrialist Gautam Adani, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Amit Shah is trying to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra. Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS will not let that happen. For this, MNS needs to unite with MVA to take down BJP.”

Mr. Raut also shared that they will be meeting the Congress high command in Delhi next week.