Mumbai/New Delhi: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday unleashed a stormy charge, saying Maharashtra MPs are being wooed with up to Rs 15 crore each to jump ship to the Eknath Shinde camp — “Apna Sapna Money Money! It’s shocking and revolting that Maharashtra MPs are reportedly being offered Rs 15 crore each tonight to switch sides,” he wrote on X.
Raut had earlier dismissed reports that five UBT MPs were planning a separate group, saying all had recently met Uddhav Thackeray and reaffirmed their loyalty, as reported by The Statesman. “This is a lie. We have no such information. Four days ago, all these MPs took part in a meeting called by Uddhav Thackeray and expressed faith in his leadership. Of them, some of the leaders swore by their loved ones pledging support to Uddhav,” he told reporters.
Mahua Moitra’s Cheeky Rejoinder
The latest allegation by Raut prompted a cheeky rejoinder from Trinamool’s Mahua Moitra: “Only ₹15 cr? Saste mein kyo jaa rahe hai? Believe ours got ₹4cr up front and ₹1cr a month for next 36 months of term. …. Honey plus Money. @uddhavthackeray @abhishekaitc”
Raut shot back on Wednesday that Rs 15 crore was mere pocket money, claiming the real “minimum support price” for defections was closer to Rs 50 crore.
Shinde Camp Denies Charge
Shinde camp leaders denied any poaching. Shaina NC said, “We have no interest in breaking any party. Everyone has seen the popularity of our leader, Eknath Shinde, because he is loyal to the common people and works at the grassroots level. He doesn’t work from home.” However, Shiv Sena MLC Krupal Tumane said that talks with seven UBT MPs were at an advanced stage and they could join before Parliament’s Monsoon Session.
The episode reopened the wound from 2022, when Shinde led a mass exodus of MLAs; reports now say seven of UBT’s nine MPs have been in contact with his camp.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam warned that “The party called Ubatha is slowly dying,” adding that its MLAs and MPs “no longer have faith in Ubatha’s leadership” and predicting the party could be finished by 2029.
