'Resign, go': Sanjay Raut hurls abuses at rebel Sena MPs
What's the story
Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut hurled abuses at rebel MPs and asked the media not to cut out his comments. Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi with Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje, he said those wishing to leave should first resign and face the public again. "If anyone wants to go, they can resign and leave," Raut said. He added that Maharashtra's people wouldn't tolerate betrayal from their elected representatives.
Bribery allegations
BJP trying to poach Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs: Raut
Raut also claimed some MPs were offered bribes to facilitate a split in the party. He alleged that each MP was offered ₹15 crore and chartered flights were arranged from Nanded and Pune. "I have information that ₹15 crore each was delivered to the MPs, after which they boarded charter flights from three places, including Nanded and Pune. We have issued a whip for the Parliamentary Party Meeting tomorrow. Arvind (Sawant) has written to the Lok Sabha Speaker," he said.
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#WATCH | Delhi | Addressing a press conference over speculations of a split in the party, Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut hurls abuses at suspected rebel MPs, asks the media not to cut out his comments pic.twitter.com/eJUk8rINO1
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2026
Motive questioned
Elected representatives owe their mandate to Shiv Sena (UBT): Raut
Raut also questioned the motives of those who were allegedly planning to leave the party. He said elected representatives owe their mandate to Shiv Sena (UBT) and its supporters. "What kind of drama have you created. Whoever wants to go... resign and leave, our people have elected you as MPs... you have come here after getting elected on our ticket," he said, stressing that any attempts to weaken the party would be resisted politically.
Op Tiger
'Operation Tiger' in Maharashtra
Maharashtra is seeing a surge of interest in "Operation Tiger," with allegations that seven of the nine UBT MPs have been in contact with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and are considering joining the ruling party. The party previously divided in 2022, when Shinde and other MLAs broke away from Uddhav Thackeray. Per reports, the rebel MPs are meeting at the residence of Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde in Delhi.
Merger allegations
BJP MLA accuses Raut of planning merger of anti-BJP parties
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ashishrao Deshmukh has accused Raut of planning a merger between Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar's faction with the Congress. Deshmukh said this would lead to Sharad Pawar becoming the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Uddhav Thackeray becoming president of Maharashtra Congress. He alleged that, upset over this development, UBT MPs might come to meet the Lok Sabha Speaker.