Sanjay Raut writes to Naidu on seat change: Bid to humiliate, Sena not formally out of NDA

The latest controversy comes in the aftermath of the BJP-Sena break-up over government formation in Maharashtra. The Sena is currently engaged in an effort to forge a government in alliance with the NCP and the Congress.

In his letter, Raut wrote, “I think that this decision was taken by someone deliberately to hurt the sentiments of Shiv Sena and to suppress our voice…. I may remind you that even when NDA was in Opposition, I was allotted a third row seat in the House in view of my seniority in Rajya Sabha. But now, what I feel…my seat has been allotted in the fifth row intentionally to humiliate me and my party’s status in the House.”

Raut said he fails to understand the reason behind this “unwarranted step of re-allocation of seats since there is no formal announcement about the (Sena’s) removal from NDA”. This move, according to him, has hurt the dignity of Parliament.

The Sena leader wrote, “I strongly feel that the Chairperson is above party affiliations and should take decisions in a non-partisan manner.” However, a message seems to have been sent that “it is correlated with the tussle for government formation in Maharashtra”.

Rajya Sabha secretariat sources said that the decision regarding change of seats for Shiv Sena members was taken by Rajya sabha secretariat based on the recommendation of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.