City
Epaper

Maha Sena: Congress-NCP make Raut's birthday trend

By IANS | Updated: November 15, 2019 14:55 IST

In a strong indication of the changing political equations in Maharashtra, the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) unitedly wished their once bitter political rival Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on his 58th birthday on Friday.

Open in App

Taking the lead, state Congress President Balasaheb Thorat greeted Raut warmly and expressed his best wishes to the Sena MP, even as the three parties hope to form the next government in the state.

Almost going overboard, former state Congress President and ex-Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said: "My heartiest wishes to our friend Sanjay on his birthday and hope that all his wishes and desires are fulfilled, and I pray to God to give him happiness, success, good health and a long life."

Going a step further, NCP leader Jitendra Awhad personally called on Raut and offered him a large bouquet and a warm hug, saying a golden period has begun for "the bold fighter and a committed Shiv Sainik (Sanjay Raut)".

Senior Congress leader Nana Patole expressed his "best wishes to my old friend Raut on his birthday" and former state party chief Manikrao Thakare also conveyed similar birthday sentiments.

Earlier this week, several Congress and NCP leaders including Thorat, Chavan, Thakare, Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule, Chhagan Bhujbal and others had called on Raut at the Lilavati Hospital where he underwent an angioplasty late on Monday night.

Though former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minister Ashish Shelar also called on Raut at the hospital, it was not known if any leader from the Sena's erstwhile ally greeted Raut on Friday.

However, several Sena leaders including Kishore Tiwari and others joined in greeting Raut - who single-handedly set the ball rolling for a potentially tectonic shift in Maharashtra politics.

The Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress are currently engaged in giving finishing touches to form the next government in Maharashtra through a political alliance.

After a series of meetings, the Common Minimum Programme is ready and the decision on their likely alliance is expected to come shortly as the three parties finalise the nitty-gritty involving the posts of Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, ministries and other aspects of power sharing.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: congressSenaBalasaheb Thoratncp
Open in App

Related Stories

MaharashtraWho Is Tanishka Kulkarni? Industrialist’s Daughter Gets Engaged to Sharad Pawar’s Grandnephew, Yugendra

MumbaiMumbai: Shiv Sena Protests Outside Congress Office Over Prithviraj Chavan’s Remarks on Malegaon Blast Verdict (VIDEO)

Maharashtra'Congress Tried to Push Narrative to Appease Vote Bank': Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Malegaon Blast Case Verdict

MaharashtraMaharashtra Minister Manikrao Kokate Played Cards in House for 18–22 Minutes, Claims Rohit Pawar

MaharashtraLadki Bahin Yojana: Rs 4,800 Crore Scam Exposed, Supriya Sule Drops Bombshell — How Did Men Receive Benefits?

National Realted Stories

NationalSurprised the world is silent: ISKCON’s Das expresses grief over 637 mob lynchings in Bangladesh

NationalOmnichannel 2.0: Indian retail sector enters new era, WhatsApp emerges as powerful channel

NationalRTCs prepare for strike in K'taka; CM Siddaramaiah to meet stakeholders

NationalGujarat CM prays for progress in Bharuch's Stambheshwar Mahadev shrine

NationalSC hints at appointing a committee to manage Shri Banke Bihari Temple