Pratap Sarnaik: No wrong if Shinde, Uddhav, Raut travel together
Synopsis
Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik's quip — that Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut riding in Eknath Shinde's car 'would not be wrong' — is more than political banter. It is a deliberate needle aimed at Raut's vocal hardline stance, and a signal that the Shinde camp sees real political mileage in exposing the Maha Vikas Aghadi's internal contradictions.
Key Takeaways
Pratap Sarnaik said on 9 July it would not be wrong if Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut travelled in Eknath Shinde 's car.
The remark was a direct rebuttal to Raut 's criticism of Sharad Pawar for meeting Shinde at the Vidhan Bhavan .
Sarnaik called Raut 's outlook 'very narrow,' saying no one in politics is a permanent enemy or friend.
Shinde reportedly stepped out of a Cabinet meeting to personally receive Pawar as a gesture of respect.
Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande also attacked Raut , questioning his standing to advise a veteran like Sharad Pawar .
Maharashtra Transport Minister and Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik on Thursday, 9 July said there would be nothing wrong if Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray, party leaders Aaditya Thackeray, and Sanjay Raut were seen travelling in Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's car — a pointed remark that underscored deepening fault lines within Maharashtra's fractured opposition.
What Sarnaik Said
'If tomorrow, Sanjay Raut, Aaditya Thackeray, or Uddhav Thackeray were to travel in Eknath Shinde's car, it should not be viewed as something wrong,' Sarnaik said. 'I have always maintained that in politics, no one is a permanent enemy and neither a permanent friend.'
The remarks came in direct response to Sanjay Raut's public criticism of Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar for meeting Shinde at the latter's chamber inside the Vidhan Bhavan. Raut had accused senior leaders of conferring legitimacy on what he called 'traitors.'
Sarnaik Targets Raut's 'Narrow Outlook'
'I feel that Sanjay Raut has a very narrow outlook,' Sarnaik said. 'The reality is that in politics, no one is a 100 per cent enemy or a 100 per cent friend. Sanjay Raut should not have viewed the situation in that manner.'
He defended Sharad Pawar's decision to meet Shinde, saying Pawar holds 'respect and affection' for the Deputy Chief Minister and regards him as a good colleague. Sarnaik added that the moment Shinde learnt of Pawar's arrival, he stepped out of an ongoing Cabinet meeting to receive him — a gesture of respect — before returning to the proceedings.
Shiv Sena's Manisha Kayande Joins the Attack
Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande also weighed in sharply against Raut. 'Who is Sanjay Raut to advise Sharad Pawar? Sharad Pawar is a veteran politician. He knows whom to meet, when to meet, and why to meet them. Is he supposed to seek Sanjay Raut's permission before doing anything?' she said.
Taking a pointed jibe, Kayande added: 'The stomach pain that Sanjay Raut wakes up with every morning will one day surely be treated by Eknath Shinde.'
The Broader Political Context
The exchange reflects the continuing volatility of Maharashtra's political landscape following the 2022 Shiv Sena split that brought Shinde to power and pushed Uddhav Thackeray's faction into opposition. Sharad Pawar's willingness to maintain working relations across the divide has repeatedly drawn fire from hardliners in the Maha Vikas Aghadi bloc, with Raut among the most vocal critics. Sarnaik's remarks signal that the ruling alliance is content to exploit those tensions publicly. Whether cross-factional dialogue translates into any formal political realignment remains to be seen.
Point of View
Not an olive branch. By framing cross-factional contact as normal and Raut's objections as petty, the Shinde camp is doing two things at once: normalising Shinde's legitimacy and exposing the Maha Vikas Aghadi's internal policing as a liability. Raut's hardline posture has long been a double-edged sword — useful for base mobilisation, but alienating to potential allies and veteran leaders like Pawar who operate on pragmatic terms. The deeper question is whether Pawar's independent outreach signals a quiet reassessment of opposition alignments ahead of the next electoral cycle, or simply the behaviour of a seasoned politician who refuses to be told whom he can meet.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Pratap Sarnaik say about Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray?
Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said it would not be wrong if Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, and Sanjay Raut were seen travelling in Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's car. He made the remark on 9 July while defending Sharad Pawar's decision to meet Shinde at the Vidhan Bhavan.
Why did Sanjay Raut criticise Sharad Pawar's meeting with Eknath Shinde?
Sanjay Raut objected to Sharad Pawar meeting Shinde at his chamber inside the Vidhan Bhavan, accusing senior leaders of conferring legitimacy on those he described as 'traitors.' The criticism reflects the Shiv Sena-UBT's hardline stance against the faction that split from Uddhav Thackeray's party in 2022.
How did Pratap Sarnaik respond to Sanjay Raut's criticism?
Sarnaik called Raut's outlook 'very narrow' and said no one in politics is a 100 per cent enemy or friend. He defended Pawar's meeting with Shinde as a reflection of cordial relations and mutual respect between the two leaders.
What did Manisha Kayande say about Sanjay Raut?
Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande questioned Raut's standing to advise a veteran like Sharad Pawar, saying Pawar knows whom to meet and when. She also took a sharp jibe, saying the 'stomach pain' Raut wakes up with every morning will one day be treated by Eknath Shinde.
What is the political background to this dispute?
The row stems from the 2022 Shiv Sena split in which Eknath Shinde led a faction away from Uddhav Thackeray to form a government with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Thackeray's Shiv Sena-UBT joined the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. Tensions between the two camps have remained high, and Pawar's independent engagement with Shinde has repeatedly drawn criticism from Raut.
