Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Member of Parliament Sanjay Raut Monday said that those who have accepted “slavery” should not comment on Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders, apparently taking a swipe at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Pawar, who broke away from Sharad Pawar led Nationalist Congress Party to join the ruling alliance in Maharashtra had dubbed Raut a “nonentity”.

“Those who chose slavery…those who are cowards should not comment on us. There is no need for me to speak more on this issue. 2024 Lok Sabha elections will show who is riff-raff,” Raut told reporters when asked to comment on Pawar`s remarks.

Pawar joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government last July with eight MLAs and staked claim to the NCP, founded by his uncle Sharad Pawar, and its poll symbol.

“Maharashtra is insulted consistently, but those in power are keeping mum. What right do they have to criticise others?” Raut asked.

Meanwhile, Raut said no meeting has been held for the appointment of a convener or chairperson of the opposition INDIA alliance.

With little time left for the Lok Sabha polls, the opposition INDIA alliance parties met on December 19, 2023 and decided to finalise seat-sharing as soon as possible.

At the meeting, some leaders also proposed Mallikarjun Kharge`s name as the prime ministerial face of the coalition, but the Congress chief said it is important to win first and the leadership issue can then be decided “democratically”.

Also read: Maharashtra: Shiv Sena (UBT) to contest 4 of city’s 6 seats in 2024 Lok Sabha Elections

Asked if JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would be the face of the opposition alliance, Raut on Monday told reporters, “No meeting of INDIA alliance has taken place recently. Even during the last meeting in Delhi, no such proposal came up in the INDIA alliance meeting.”

Raut said Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has expressed the need to have a “face of the opposition bloc”.

“Uddhav Thackeray said in the INDIA alliance meeting in Delhi that we need to bring a face to the forefront. It will be a unanimously chosen senior leader who will work as the convener or chairperson of this alliance,” the Rajya Sabha member said. (With inputs from agencies)

Last month, an editorial in the Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece `Saamana` suggested that a `sarthi` (charioteer) be appointed to steer the opposition alliance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The Marathi daily had also advised the Congress to take all allies together if it wants to strengthen the opposition INDIA alliance. (With inputs from agencies)

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