Sanjay Raut accuses Praful Patel and Pratap Sarnaik of switching parties under ED pressure

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 8 (ANI): Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Friday took a swipe at NCP leader Praful Patel and Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik, alleging they switched parties to avoid pressure from the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
"What Praful Patel and Pratap Sarnaik are saying has no meaning. These people left to escape ED. There was pressure on me too; I had written to the Vice President then. Many people were under pressure to leave the party and join the BJP. Weak-hearted people left the party," Raut remarked.
Praful Patel, along with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, broke away from the MVA to join the Mahayuti in July last year. Earlier, During the Maharashtra political crisis, when Eknath Shinde's faction of Shiv Sena declared its split from Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and formed a coalition with the BJP. Pratap Sarnaik also had tagged along with Shinde to join the Mahayukti on June 30, 2022.
Meawhile on Tuesday, an FIR was filed against Sanjay Raut's brother and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, Sunil Raut, for allegedly making derogatory remarks about a female candidate. In response, NCP leader Praful Patel underlined the need for respect towards women.

"Women should be respected. 'Nari Shakti' makes up half of our population. Today, we are coming to the forefront. Maharashtra's 'Ladli Behen' scheme is not just about financial support but also aims to boost respect and self-confidence for women," Patel stated. He also mentioned the recent Constitutional amendment for 33 percent women's representation in legislative bodies, set to be implemented after delimitation in 2029.
"PM Modi has worked for women's empowerment for 10 years. Other parties made tall claims but never implemented them. By 2029, we will see 33 percent representation for women in the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha after delimitation," he added.
An FIR has been filed against Sunil Raut, Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from the Vikhroli constituency, for reportedly calling Suvarna Karanje, a Shiv Sena candidate, a "goat" at an election rally. The FIR was registered under Sections 79, 351(2), and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Sunil Raut, who previously won the Vikhroli seat in the 2014 and 2019 assembly elections, is contesting again, facing candidates from Shiv Sena and MNS. Maharashtra elections are scheduled for a single phase on November 20, with vote counting on November 23.
In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, BJP won 105 seats, undivided Shiv Sena 56, and Congress 44. In 2014, BJP had secured 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and Congress 42. (ANI)