Shiv Sena (UBT) questions preference for Kripashankar Singh over BJP stalwart Nitin Gadkari in BJP’s first list

Mocking the first list of 195 candidates released by the ruling BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha election, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) said the list comprised leaders like ex-Congressman and former Maharashtra Minister Kripashankar Singh, whom the BJP had threatened to put behind bars owing to graft charges.

Mr. Thackeray expressed astonishment at the exclusion of BJP stalwarts like Union Minister Nitin Gadkari from the first list, while those like Mr. Singh, previously accused of money laundering, made the cut.

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Alluding to the list, Mr. Thackeray recalled his past collaboration with Mr. Gadkari, who had expedited the completion of the Mumbai-Pune expressway — the brainchild of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray.

Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut questioned whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vaunted “guarantees” only amounted to either absorbing into the BJP, or giving tickets, to graft-accused leaders from the Congress and other parties.

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“Today, Kripashankar Singh has been given a ticket from Jaunpur, near Varanasi. Earlier, Ashok Chavan, facing allegations in the Adarsh scam, was made a Rajya Sabha MP by the BJP as soon as he joined the party. The case against Ajit Pawar pertaining to the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam, allegedly totalling ₹40,000 crore, has now been closed. Once upon a time, [Maharashtra BJP leader and Deputy CM] Devendra Fadnavis had said he would throw all these leaders in jail. So, is this Modi’s guarantee? That Kripashankar gets a ticket, Ajit Pawar gets a clean chit, Ashok Chavan is given a Rajya Sabha berth?” Mr. Raut said, speaking in Nashik.

Stating that the BJP hardly has any leaders of its own, Mr. Raut said that of the 195 candidates, more than 70 were like Kripashankar Singh, being accused in one scam or the other. “PM Modi is such a big leader, but the BJP does not have any candidates,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Raut urged Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra, to file a defamation suit against Mr. Fadnavis.

The Sena (UBT) leader was speaking in the context of the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police recently filing a closure report in the multi-crore MSCB scam in which Mr. Pawar was named.

Mr. Raut said that prior to aligning with the BJP-Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) government in Maharashtra, Mr. Fadnavis had accused Mr. Pawar of playing a role in the scam and had spoken of putting him behind bars.

“Now, the EOW has filed a closure report in the case. So, where is the proof against Ajit Pawar on which Mr. Fadnavis based his allegations. Because of these allegations, Mr. Pawar had to break with his family [Pawar clan], stab his uncle [Sharad Pawar] in the back and split the NCP to join the BJP government. So, Sunetra Pawar and Parth Pawar [Ajit’s son] ought to file a defamation case against Mr. Fadnavis,” Mr. Raut said.