Sat Mar 15 16:53:47 UTC 2025: ## Raut Alleges Shinde Sought Congress Entry Before Shiv Sena Split
**Mumbai, India** – Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has made explosive allegations, claiming that Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had previously attempted to join the Indian National Congress. While Raut declined to specify the timing of the alleged attempt, citing the death of former Congress leader Ahmed Patel, he suggested that Patel possessed knowledge of the event and urged inquiries be directed to former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. Chavan declined to comment. Shinde has yet to respond to the allegations.
Raut’s statement follows recent comments by former Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole, who offered Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar the possibility of a rotational chief ministership if they joined the opposition alliance. Raut responded to this by stating that “nothing is impossible in politics,” citing the unexpected formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi in 2019 and the subsequent political upheavals.
Raut further asserted that Shinde’s allegiance lies with the BJP, not the Shiv Sena’s traditional ideology, claiming that both Shinde and Ajit Pawar are now essentially carrying the BJP’s flag. The timing of these allegations adds further fuel to the already volatile political landscape of Maharashtra.
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