Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 21 : Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut dismissed Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole's alleged remarks on Thursday that a Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government will be formed in the state and said that "no one will accept this."
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Raut said that the matter needs to be collectively discussed with the alliance.
"I will not accept this, and no one else will accept this. We will sit together and decide if Nana Patole has said this and whether Nana Patole has the Congress high command's backing. The Congress high command has said that if you (Patole) are becoming the Chief Minister, then Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Sonia Gandhi should announce it," Raut said.
Earlier, Patole had claimed that Congress would lead the MVA government in Maharashtra based on the voting trends and public feedback. The Congress Maharashtra Chief said, "Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government will be formed in Maharashtra under the leadership of Congress."
"The way voting trends are coming in and what people are saying, most Congress candidates will be elected in the state. There is no doubt the MVA government will be formed, and the Chief Minister will be from MVA," Patole stated.
He also accused the BJP of violating election norms. "The BJP's national general secretary was seen distributing money. He didn't follow the code of conduct. Devendra Fadnavis's PA, contesting from Wardha, had liquor bottles found in his warehouse. Wardha is a liquor-ban district. Is the BJP engaging in 'note jihad' by distributing liquor and money? BJP does not believe in the constitutional system," Patole added.
Most exit polls have predicted the Mahayuti alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP will return to power, with the MVA, which includes Congress, NCP (SP), and Shiv Sena (UBT), putting up a good show but falling short of a majority. This is the first assembly poll in the state after the splits in Shiv Sena and NCP. The counting of votes is scheduled to take place on November 23.