Sanjay Raut in talks to join Congress, claims BJP MLA Nitesh Rane

Maharashtra minister and BJP MLA Nitesh Rane on Sunday alleged that key Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut is holding talks with a leader in Delhi to join Congress PTI reportedRane pointed out that Rauts Rajya Sabha term will end soon and the Uddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena party does not have enough legislators to ensure his victory for another term Sena UBT won 20 seats in the 288member Maharashtra assembly in the elections held last year in NovemberRaut should write in Saamana mouthpiece of the Uddhav Thackerayled party about how long he is going to last in the Shiv Sena UBT He should write about the leader he is talks with in Delhi to join the Congress He should also make a statement on this issue Rane told PTI reportersDespite repeated attempts by PTI Raut could not be contacted for commentsRanes comments came against the backdrop of Rauts claims that the discord between CM Devendra Fadnavis and his deputy and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde was affecting governance in the stateAs per PTI in his weekly column Rokhthok in the Shiv Sena UBT mouthpiece Saamna on Sunday Raut alleged that the strained relation between Fadnavis and Shinde was hindering Maharashtras progressRaut further said that Shinde was yet to come to terms with the fact that he was not reinstated as chief minister following Maharashtra assembly elections 2024 and was desperately trying to regain the position which Fadnavis fully understandsThe Shiv Sena UBT and Congress are alliesEvery budget of Modi govt is an election package Sanjay Raut on Bihar specific announcements in Budget 2025Amid opposition criticism on the Budget 2025 Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday claimed that every budget of Prime Minister Narendra Modis government was an election package and this time too proved no exception with maximum sops given to Bihar the state which will see elections later this year reported news agency ANIElection is due in Bihar Modi governments every budget is an election package This time there is an election in Bihar and hence they have allocated the maximum amount to Bihar Raut told media persons in MumbaiIn her budget speech on Saturday Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced several incentives for Bihar where assembly elections are due toward the end of this yearShe announced that Greenfield airports would be developed in Bihar in addition to expanding the capacity of Patna Airport and constructing a brownfield airport in BihtaShe also highlighted the Western Kosi Canal ERM project in the Mithilanchal region of BiharFinancial support will be provided for the Western Kosi Canal ERM project benefitting a large number of farmers cultivating over 50000 hectares of land in the Mithilanchal region of Bihar she saidThis ignited criticism from the opposition parties who accused the Centre of presenting a Budget 2025 specifically for BiharWith agency inputs