No Love For Shivaji’s Scion, Shiv Sena Fields Another

MUMBAI, (IANS) – The Shiv Sena on May 24 shunned Yuvraj Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati and will field its Kolhapur party chief Sanjay Pawar for the second Rajya Sabha seat in next month’s elections.

The development – which was immediately labeled as a “sin” by Sambhajiraje’s supporters – came as an embarrassing jolt for the 13th direct descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Sena chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut said that “we have full respect for Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati”, and Pawar’s name was cleared by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, with a formal announcement pending.

Sambhajiraje is likely to stick to his earlier plan and contest as an Independent – barring some last-minute political developments.

In a swipe at Sambhajiraje – who had sought the support of Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress – Raut declared: “Kings are kings because of soldiers… Pawar is our foot-soldier.”

Livid groups and supporters of Samhajiraje accused Raut of committing a “sin” and NCP President Sharad Pawar of “fraud”.

“We have the utmost regards for Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje, his family and the (Kolhapur) throne… That’s why we requested him to join the Sena so that we could field him as the sixth candidate,” Raut pointed out, justifying Pawar’s candidature.