RAUT: FADNAVIS HAS TAKEN GOOD DECISIONS WHILE RUNNING THE GOVT

MUMBAI: Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is the one heading Maharashtra, said Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut on Thursday, a day after getting bail in an alleged money laundering case.

Calling Fadnavis an “experienced leader”, Raut told reporters that he will meet the senior BJP leader soon.

“The deputy CM is the one who is running the state. It is my observation that Fadnavis ji is leading the state even today. He is an experienced leader and is announcing many important decisions,” Raut said.

Insiders said Raut’s praise of Fadnavis was more a jibe at chief minister Eknath Shinde, whose rebellion in the Shiv Sena caused a vertical split in the party. Former Thane mayor and Shinde camp spokesperson Naresh Mhaske said: “Sanjay Raut feels that saying such things will create a rift between the CM and deputy CM... But they are working together.”