Mumbai: Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has made a major claim regarding central government politics and cabinet expansion. Raut claims that a major reshuffle could soon take place in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet, in which Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis could be called to Delhi and appointed Deputy Prime Minister. Furthermore, he claimed that the reshuffle is stalled due to internal conflicts within the Union Cabinet. However, there has been no official response from the ruling BJP or the NDA to these claims.
Sanjay Raut claimed that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is in favor of giving a major responsibility at the center to an influential leader from outside Delhi. According to Sanjay Raut, the Sangh’s intention is to bring forward a new face as PM Modi’s successor. He said that the RSS wants a leader from outside Delhi to be the Deputy Prime Minister, and that face could be Devendra Fadnavis. Raut also quipped that if Fadnavis is unaware of this political development, then he himself is informing him about it.
Commenting on the political future of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Raut said that while Amit Shah may aspire to become Prime Minister, the country’s political history has been against it. Citing the example of how no Home Minister has ever directly ascended to the Prime Minister’s post. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel also served as Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Raut said that while Amit Shah may consider himself a “PM in waiting,” the public does not accept him as such. He also added that Rajnath Singh’s name is also being discussed, but there is uncertainty there as well.
Sanjay Raut claimed a major deadlock within the central government regarding the potential expansion and reshuffle of the Modi cabinet. He stated that the government is asking some senior ministers to resign, but they are unwilling to do so. According to Raut, these senior ministers are of the view that if a reshuffle is to be carried out, Home Minister Amit Shah’s resignation should be accepted first. He will only submit his resignation if Amit Shah resigns, otherwise the Prime Minister could use his prerogative to dismiss him.
Sanjay Raut, considered Uddhav Thackeray’s strategist, said that the Modi government’s cabinet expansion is stalled due to the pressure from the Sangh to make him the Deputy Prime Minister and the ongoing tussle over the resignations of ministers. He said that some senior ministers have been in power for longer than Amit Shah and they want the reshuffle to begin with the resignation of the Home Minister. Raut said that there is currently confusion in the country regarding the posts of PM and Home Minister and Fadnavis should be aware of this entire development. After Sanjay Raut’s statement, the market of speculation has heated up in the political circles from Maharashtra to Delhi.
