Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday publicly criticised Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar for holding a party meeting inside Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s office at the Vidhan Bhavan, saying the move had caused deep resentment within the Shiv Sena (UBT) and undermined the credibility of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Raut said that while political leaders often meet across party lines, a leader of Sharad Pawar’s stature should have avoided conducting a party meeting from the office of a leader whom the Opposition accuses of engineering the collapse of the MVA government in 2022.
"When a senior leader goes under the roof of someone who betrayed the government and holds a meeting there, it diminishes the credibility of that leader. You are giving respect to those whom we call turncoats," Raut said.
The controversy stems from Sharad Pawar’s visit to the Vidhan Bhavan on Wednesday to participate in discussions on the long-standing Maharashtra–Karnataka border dispute. During the visit, Pawar reportedly convened a meeting with members of his party inside Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s office. Shinde is also said to have stepped out of a Cabinet meeting to personally receive the veteran leader.
Questioning the choice of venue, Raut argued that there were several alternative locations available within the Assembly complex.
"Was the entire Vidhan Bhavan unavailable? There is a Nationalist Congress Party office and a Shiv Sena office right opposite the Assembly premises. Holding a meeting in Eknath Shinde’s office only damages the credibility of Sharad Pawar’s party," he remarked.
Raut further suggested that if Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders had held a similar meeting in Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s office, it would have immediately been viewed as a political signal against the Opposition alliance.
Despite his sharp criticism, Raut clarified that he was not questioning Sharad Pawar’s political ideology or commitment to the Opposition bloc.
"I can assure you that Sharad Pawar will not join the NDA. I have no reason to question his ideology. But what happened yesterday has caused pain to Shiv Sena. It was completely avoidable," he said.
Raut also stressed that there was nothing inappropriate about Pawar attending an official meeting on the Maharashtra–Karnataka border issue or interacting with the Chief Minister. However, he maintained that the political optics of holding a party meeting in Shinde’s office sent the wrong message.
Calling the border dispute an emotional issue for Maharashtra, Raut said Shiv Sena has been associated with the movement for decades and sought greater transparency regarding the discussions.
"The Chief Minister should explain which senior leaders were invited to that meeting and what was discussed. People living in the border areas have suffered for years while the dispute remains pending," he said.
Raut argued that extending political courtesy to leaders accused of bringing down the MVA government weakens the Opposition’s moral position.
"If you choose to honour those whom you have accused of betraying your government, then you lose the moral right to speak about that betrayal. Why fight legal battles against them if you are going to accord them such respect?" he asked.
In a pointed comparison, Raut questioned whether Eknath Shinde should be accorded the same stature as some of Maharashtra’s most respected former chief ministers.
"Is Eknath Shinde Yashwantrao Chavan, Shankarrao Chavan, Vasantdada Patil, Vasantrao Naik or Vilasrao Deshmukh? What message are you sending to Maharashtra by honouring those you call turncoats?" he said.
Raut’s remarks have brought to the surface fresh tensions within the Maha Vikas Aghadi, the Opposition alliance comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), Sharad Pawar-led NCP, and the Congress. Although Raut reiterated that he does not doubt Pawar’s ideological commitment or foresee him joining the NDA, his criticism reflects growing unease within the alliance over political symbolism and public messaging.
The episode has triggered debate over whether gestures of political courtesy across rival camps could affect the Opposition’s narrative ahead of future political battles in Maharashtra.
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