Fact Check: Was Rs 2000-Cr Deal Done To Ensure Shiv Sena Name For Shinde Faction?

Pic courtesy Twitter

New Delhi: Uddhav Thackeray’s faction has been stung hard by the Election Commission (EC) of India’s ruling of granting Eknath Shinde’s group the Shiv Sena name and its original symbol of bow and arrow.

After Uddhav Thackeray called EC ‘slaves’ of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sanjay Raut on Sunday alleged that deals and transactions worth Rs 2000 crore have been done so far to ensure the Shiv Sena party name and symbol for Shinde faction.

“I am confident that to get the (Shiv Sena) symbol and name, transactions worth Rs 2000 crore have been made so far… This is an initial figure and is 100% true. Soon there will be many revelations. This has never happened before in the country’s history,” the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader tweeted in Hindi.

He alleged that the 40 MLAs who defected from the party in the Shinde-led rebellion last year, were given Rs 50 crore each.

Reiterating that Uddhav’s faction is the ‘real’ Shiv Sena, Raut said his party has approached the Supreme Court as the EC’s order does not inspire confidence.

“A Constitutional Body with quasi judicial powers should not only be impartial but ALSO APPEAR TO BE AWAY FROM ANY INFLUENCE. Unfortunately ECI Order does not inspire confidence… BJP has no scruples & can go to any extreme to safeguard its investment of 2000 Crs (40 MLAX 50 Cr),” Raut further tweeted.

The Shinde camp has rubbished Raut’s charge.

“Is Sanjay Raut a cashier?” quipped Sada Sarvankar, an MLA from the Shinde camp.