Sanjay Raut Criticizes Sharad Pawar Over Meeting With Chief Minister Eknath Shinde

In Mumbai, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut publicly criticized NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday for holding a meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his office on Wednesday. Raut accused Pawar of undermining his own credibility and hurting the Shiv Sena (UBT) by meeting with Shinde, whom he characterized as a "traitor."

The public criticism has signaled growing political friction and tension between the key Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition partners, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP (SP). Raut, who is known to be close to the veteran politician Pawar, expressed strong disapproval of the meeting held at the Chief Minister's office.

Speaking on Thursday, Raut alleged that Pawar was lending dignity to traitors, which he claimed is causing the NCP (SP)'s credibility to decline. He questioned the decision to hold the meeting in Shinde's office, pointing to the political events that led to the fall of the previous government.

"Pawar is certainly a great leader; he is respected, but holding meetings under the roof of a traitor who toppled his govt reduces and undermines the credibility of a great leader," Raut said. He further questioned, "Why did Sharad Pawar hold a meeting in Eknath Shinde’s office, who infected Maharashtra with treachery and corruption?"

In response to the criticism, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde defended the meeting and described Pawar as "a big leader" of the state. Shinde explained that when Pawar arrived at his office, he went there to welcome him.

Shinde also dismissed the criticism from the Shiv Sena (UBT), framing the interaction as part of the state's traditional political etiquette. "This is the political culture of Maharashtra; we are preserving it. Now, for those who may have stomach aches due to this... their mental health may have deteriorated," Shinde said.