Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday alleged that the Bharat Ratna awards announced by the Centre are being conferred for “political benefits” ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, reported the ANI.

“Bharat Ratna is given after seeing the political benefits of it,” Sanjay Raut said while addressing a press conference in Mumbai on Sunday, as per the ANI.

Stating that only three people can be awarded the Bharat Ratna in a year, the Rajya Sabha MP said that the government was giving the award to five people.

“All this is being done for political benefits…Chaudhary Charan Singh (former Prime Minister) is being awarded Bharat Ratna because they want Jayant Chaudhary to join their party…,” he alleged, according to the ANI.

There have been speculations about Jayant Chaudhary (Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) Chief) joining the BJP and giving a jolt to the INDIA bloc.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Friday that former PMs Chaudhary Charan Singh and PV Narasimha Rao will be conferred the Bharat Ratna. Along with them, MS Swaminathan, also known as the father of the green revolution, will also be awarded the country`s highest civilian award.

Opposition leaders have questioned the timing of the announcement of the awards, which come just ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Congress leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said on Friday after the announcement, “Happy that secular, socialist leaders have been awarded Bharat Ratna It is gratifying that the BJP is discovering the contribution of the three eminent men. It is of no consequence to me that the recognition has come on the eve of general elections. Homage to the memory of the three Bharat Ratna Awardees.”

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said on Sunday said that the Modi government has conferred Bharat Ratna on former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur to get votes from the eastern state in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls, reported the PTI.

Addressing a gathering of Shiv Sena workers in Mumbai, Uddhav Thackeray claimed the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which was the forerunner of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had opposed Thakur`s decision to give 26 per cent reservation to backward classes in government jobs, as per the PTI.

(with ANI and inputs)

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