Sat Mar 15 16:44:19 UTC 2025: ## Shiv Sena Leader Alleges Shinde Attempted Congress Switch

**Mumbai, March 15, 2025** – Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut ignited a political firestorm Saturday by claiming Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde previously sought to join the Congress party. Raut stated Shinde had contacted the late Ahmed Patel, former political secretary to Sonia Gandhi, though he declined to specify the timeframe. He suggested that former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan could corroborate the claim.

However, Shinde’s aide and Thane MP Naresh Mhaske vehemently denied the allegations, dismissing them as a “hangover” from Holi celebrations. Mhaske questioned why Shinde was appointed Urban Development Minister in the previous Uddhav Thackeray government if his intentions were to join the Congress. He further suggested the claims were desperate attempts by the Uddhav Thackeray faction to regain relevance following their electoral defeat.

The accusations follow former Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole’s invitation to Shinde and Ajit Pawar to join the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) opposition alliance, offering them rotational chief ministership. Raut described Patole’s offer as “speechless,” highlighting the unpredictable nature of Maharashtra politics. He also used the opportunity to criticize the BJP’s promotion of films perceived as aligning with their political agenda, specifically referencing the film “Chhaava” and allegations of its historical inaccuracies. This comment followed criticism of the film by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who cited negative portrayals of Sambhaji Maharaj by historical figures associated with the RSS.

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