"Karyakartas felt party should have fought polls independently," says UBT Sena's Sanjay Raut, assures alliance intact

New Delhi [India], November 28 (ANI): After the Maha Vikas Aghadi suffered a humiliating defeat in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday said that karyakartas of the party felt the pary should have fought independently in the assembly polls but added the caveat that the UBT Sena was not going to leave the MVA
"Not leaving MVA. We are discussing. Karyakartas felt we should have fought independently. These are just rumours. We fought in an MVA alliance in Lok Sabha and it was a big thing to win such a huge number," Sanjay Raut said, addressing a press conference in the national capital.
When asked if Shiv Sena will contest alone or as part of MVA in the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, Sanjay Raut said that the MVA leaders are "capable" of making decisions regarding the BMC elections.
"Why are you guys worried? Just now the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections' results have come...we will see, we know what to do. MVA leaders are capable of making decisions regarding the BMC polls," he added.
As the Mahayuti alliance grapples with a challenge over the Chief Minister's post following its landslide victory in the assembly polls, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said that even after seven days, Mahayuti is unable to give a CM to Maharashtra.
"They (Mahayuti) have a full majority...still even after 7 days, Mahayuti is unable to give a CM to Maharashtra...what is the reason?...why can't PM, Amit Shah and their leaders decide their CM?...he (Eknath Shinde) takes the name of Balasaheb Thackeray and do politics in the name of Shiv Sena but their decisions are taken in Delhi. Balasaheb Thackeray's future has never been decided in Delhi, it was decided in Mumbai. We never went to Delhi, there used to be Atal ji and Advani ji...we never went to Delhi and begged in front of them," Raut said.
The election results for Maharashtra were declared on November 23, but the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has yet to finalise the Chief Minister.
The Mahayuti alliance swept to power in a landslide victory with the BJP emerging as the biggest winner with 132 seats out of 280 member Maharashtra assembly, while its allies--the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and the NCP led by Ajit Pawar--won 57 and 41 seats, respectively.
While the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) managed to secure only 46 seats. The Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, secured just 20 seats, Congress won 16, and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) managed only 10.
The Maharashtra assembly elections were held on November 20, and the results were declared on November 23. (ANI)