Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday claimed the "death warrant" of the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government has been issued and it will collapse in the next 15-20 days.
The ruling Shiv Sena (led by Shinde), however, dubbed Raut as a "fake astrologer" and said there are many such leaders in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) who make such predictions.
Talking to reporters in Jalgaon district of north Maharashtra, Raut, a key leader of former CM Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT), said his party was waiting for the court's order and expecting that justice will be done.
The Rajya Sabha member was referring to the Supreme Court's judgement pending on a batch of pleas including one seeking disqualification of 16 Shiv Sena MLAs (of Shinde's party) who revolted against Thackeray's leadership.
"The government of the existing chief minister and his 40 MLAs will collapse in 15-20 days. The death warrant of this government has been issued. It is now to be decided who will sign it," Raut claimed.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader had earlier claimed the Shinde government will collapse in February.
In Pune, Maharashtra Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar, who belongs to the Shinde-led Sena, termed Raut as a "fake astrologer".
Kesarkar said the Supreme Court should at least be given time to give its verdict on a batch of pleas, including one seeking disqualification of 16 Shiv Sena MLAs.
In June last year, Shinde and 39 MLAs rebelled against the Sena leadership resulting in the party's split and collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government (which also comprises the NCP and Congress) led by Thackeray.
Shinde later tied-up with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form the government in Maharashtra.
On June 30, 2022, Shinde was sworn in as the CM along with BJP's Devendra Fadnavis as his deputy.
The apex court last month reserved its verdict on a batch of cross-petitions of Uddhav Thackeray and CM Eknath Shinde factions pertaining to last year's political crisis in the state.
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