Gap widens between BJP and descendants of Shivaji over quota

If only Sambhajiraje wishes, we will participate in his agitation on Maratha reservation, says BJP

All seemed to be hunky-dory between Chhatrapati Udayan Raje Bhosale and Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, the two direct descendants of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, off late, cracks have begun to emerge in the trio’s relationship.

Both the descendants are missing from the BJP’s list of leaders who will soon embark on the district-wise tours ‘to convince people how the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government failed to win the crucial litigation in the Supreme Court of India’. The BJP list includes Maratha leaders such as Narayan Raje, Harshwardhan Patil, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar, Narendra Patil, ex-minister Ravindra Chavan and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Pravin Darekar.

Interestingly, Udayan Raje has been keeping silent about his next move. His cousin Sambhajiraje has been meeting important leaders and activists of Maratha reservation. On Thursday, he met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar to discuss the crucial issue. He also announced his meetings with senior leaders of BJP, Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena.

Reacting over his ‘go all alone’ move, BJP state unit chief Chandrakant Patil said, “He is free to do what he feels as an individual. We will not criticise him as he is from the revered Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj’s family from Kolhapur”. Whoever takes the agenda of Maratha Reservation ahead, BJP will extend its support to him without the party flag or the badge, said Patil. He added, “If he (Sambhajiraje) does not want us (BJP) to participate, then we won’t participate.”

On the crucial issue of Sambhajiraje’s appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Patil sought to clear the air. He said not many people are aware that, when the issue of allotting a Rajya Sabha berth to Sambhajiraje came up for discussion before the party, it was the PM who said that, instead of calling the descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to the BJP office to join the party, we should recommend him as the President’s nominee to the Rajya Sabha.

“When the party decided to invite Sambhajiraje for introduction before the national executive, I took him to Prayagraj, where the executive meet was scheduled. When he was introduced by Amit Shah, the entire executive, including the PM rose up in honour of him,” Patil said.