Sanjay Raut takes 'love jihad' dig at BJP-PDP alliance amid impasse

Amid the impasse in Maharashtra government formation and a probability of an unprecedented political alliance between Shiv Sena and Congress, Sanjay Raut compared the scenario to the PDP-BJP alliance in Jammu and Kashmir. Taking a dig at BJP, Raut questioned if their alliance with Mehbooba Mufti's PDP can be called as "love jihad."

A day after Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari invited the Shiv Sena to stake claim to form a government, Raut told reporters that the BJP "insulted" people's mandate by not abiding by the "50:50" formula which, he claimed, was decided before the Lok Sabha polls. The BJP on Sunday announced it would not form government in the state and accused the Shiv Sena of "disrespecting" people's mandate secured by the NDA in the recent Assembly polls.

"The BJP's arrogance that it would sit in the opposition but not share the chief minister's post has led to this situation...if the BJP is not willing to implement its promise, then there is no meaning in staying with the alliance," the Rajya Sabha member said.

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He further, said when the BJP could tie-up with the PDP to form government in the then Jammu and Kashmir state, why the Sena cannot do the same with the NCP and Congress in Maharashtra. "Should we call the BJP's association with PDP as "love jihad"? I am simply underscoring here the contradiction behind the question," Raut said. The PDP, a regional party, and the BJP, both ideologically different, came together to form government in the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state in 2015. However, the BJP ended its alliance with the Mehbooba Mufti-led party in 2018, following which the government there collapsed.

The senior Shiv Sena leader said that if their pre-poll allies, the BJP, was not willing to fulfill its promise of sharing the chief minister's post in Maharashtra, then there was no point in continuing with the coalition. 

Furthermore, Raut accused of whisking a "conspiracy" to impose Presidential rule in Maharashtra. He said that the Shiv Sena, along with the Congress and NCP to not let the 'conspiracy' succeed. "A conspiracy is going on to keep Maharashtra under control through President's rule. The Sena, NCP, and Congress have agreed to not let this conspiracy succeed. The Sena, NCP, and Congress agree on protecting the interest of Maharashtra," Raut said.

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Maharashtra political scenario 

Blaming the Sena for fracturing the Mahayuti alliance, BJP announced that it would not form the next government in the state on Sunday, after meeting the governor. Sena, being the second-largest part was then invited to form the government - proving its ability by Monday evening- 7:30 PM. Both NCP and Congress are now in a huddle, talking with their MLAs discussing a possible alliance with the saffron party. NCP is currently waiting for Congress to decide on the alliance. Senior Congress leaders will meet with Sonia Gandhi to take a final call.

BJP in spite of stating its inability to form the next government, too, is set to hold a core group meeting headed by Devendra Fadnavis. The major tiff between the two ideologically similar parties BJP and Shiv Sena is for the 50-50 formula and sharing the CM post for 2.5 years each. BJP has refused to both, with the BJP willing to give Shiv Sena 13 cabinet portfolios and keeping 26 portfolios for itself.

(With PTI inputs)