Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed on Sunday that some rebel MPs are in touch with the party because they are scared of the public anger in their constituencies. Raut said that talks are currently underway with at least two such MPs.

Speaking to reporters, the Rajya Sabha member said that if the MPs feel they have made a mistake, discussions can be held with them. Raut claimed that conversations are actively going on with two MPs.

Sanjay Raut said, “Some MPs are still in contact. They are scared because of the anger of the people in their electoral constituencies.”

Raut also targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement in which he said that no faction now remains, and there is only one Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde.

Accusing Shah of insulting Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and Maharashtra, Raut claimed that there is only one Shiv Sena, and its leader is currently Uddhav Thackeray.

Sanjay Raut said, “The more you insult Shiv Sena (UBT), the more the people of the state will stand against you.”

He stated that technically all the rebel MPs are still with Shiv Sena (UBT) and that no order has come from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in this matter. Even the Shinde-led Shiv Sena has not issued any official statement saying they have joined their party.

Sanjay Raut said that the six MPs have not declared that they have left Shiv Sena (UBT), but they did not attend the party meeting, which amounts to a violation of the whip.

The six MPs who did not attend the Shiv Sena (UBT) parliamentary party meeting held in Delhi on 17 June are: Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Nagesh Patil-Ash tikar, and Omprakash Rajenimbalkar.

This has intensified speculation that they are about to join Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.Shiv Sena (UBT) has nine Lok Sabha members. For the rebel group to avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law, they need at least six MPs (two-thirds of the total strength).

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan commented that it is now time to wait and see when the Enforcement Directorate and CBI teams reach Sanjay Raut.

The minister’s remark was in response to Raut’s recent statement in which he had said that if the CBI were under his control, Girish Mahajan would be the first BJP leader to switch parties.

In a sharp retort, Sanjay Raut said there is nothing wrong in waiting for the central agencies. He alleged, “Central agencies are being sent to my house because they are your domestic servants.”

He added, “When the ED and CBI reach your house, you will either hide in a bill(field), commit suicide, or change your party.”