As Bihar readies for Assembly elections, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday weighed in, stating that the polls should be fought on the issues of development, law and order and good governance. "But if these issues have (been) exhausted, then issues from Mumbai can be sent as parcel," the Rajya Sabha MP added.
The Bihar elections will be held in three phases, from October 28. The results would be announced on November 10. Interestingly, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is the BJP election in-charge for Bihar.
Raut has, in recent days, clashed repeatedly with several eminent personalities including actor Kangana Ranaut as the investigations into the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput unfolded. The Bihar Police investigation that appeared to be at loggerheads with the Mumbai Police had raised the hackles of many, and since then the backlash against the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government has been facing heat.
More recently, Raut had said that while the Narcotics Control Bureau's job was to prevent drug smuggling, "here they are calling one person after the other". "In which field, there is no addiction? Some have an addiction to money, some have other addictions," he had said.
At the same time, many others allege that Rajput's death is being politicised. Raut's comments seem to be a dig at the NDA alliance that will be contesting the polls under the aegis of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Raut has indicated that the Sena might also contest the Bihar polls.
"Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will take a call on Shiv Sena contesting the Bihar elections in coming 2-3 days. The election in Bihar is held on caste and other things. Labour laws or farmers bills will not be an issue in Bihar elections," he was quoted as saying.
(With inputs from agencies)
