Senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, drawing a controversial comparison with Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Addressing a press conference in Pune, the Rajya Sabha member remarked that while India has produced illustrious leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri, P V Narasimha Rao, Rajiv Gandhi, B R Ambedkar, and Bal Thackeray, he finds PM Modi's character concerning. Raut stated, "The same land that produced Aurangzeb also produced people like him. Aurangzeb was born in Gujarat."
Political Context and Defection Speculation
Raut's comments come amid growing speculation about the future of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) within the opposition camp. Sources in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) indicate that the party is being closely monitored for potential defections. Such discussions have persisted since the Mahayuti alliance's decisive victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections but have recently gained fresh momentum.
Anti-Defection Law Implications
The Uddhav Thackeray faction currently holds nine seats in the Lok Sabha. Under the anti-defection law, a minimum of six MPs would need to move together to another party to avoid disqualification. According to Times of India sources, if such a development occurs, the most likely destination would be the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The speculation has intensified following internal rebellion within the Trinamool Congress, where a dissident faction has openly challenged party supremo Mamata Banerjee's leadership and expressed support for the Narendra Modi-led NDA.
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