CM Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis should campaign for Belgaum-based Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti in Karnataka polls: Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut

BELGAUM: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said he would be visiting Marathi-speaking regions in Karnataka to seek support for the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES).
He also suggested that Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis should similarly travel to Belgaum and conduct a campaign for the MES.
"However, the situation is different as they (BJP) have gone there (Belgaum) to defeat them (MES). They (BJP) should feel ashamed that they have gone to defeat Marathi people," Raut claimed.
Raut said CM Eknath Shinde claims to have participated in the Maharashtra-Karnataka border agitation, and if this is the case, he should be in Belgaum supporting the MES and opposing the BJP.
The BJP and Shinde's Shiv Sena are ruling allies in Maharashtra since June last year.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) is committed to the Marathi-speaking people of Belgaum-Karwar and the (undivided) Shiv Sena had "martyred" 69 workers and party founder Bal Thackeray was jailed for three months over the border row, Rajya Sabha MP Raut said.
While the Congress is the principal opposition party in Karnataka seeking to dislodge the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government, the Nationalist Congress Party too has fielded candidates.
(With inputs from PTI)