Shiv Sena (UBT) Leader Sanjay Raut Takes Break from Public Life Due to Health Issues

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has announced a temporary withdrawal from public life, citing sudden health complications. The outspoken critic of the BJP-led NDA government shared the update on X (formerly Twitter), informing supporters that his condition had "suddenly worsened" and that he was currently under medical care.

Doctors have advised Raut to stay away from public interactions until he recovers. Expressing gratitude to his well-wishers, Raut said he was confident of regaining his health by early next year. His absence is expected to be felt within Opposition circles, especially as he was slated to join a protest against the Election Commission on November 1.

Recent Criticism of BJP

Before stepping back, Raut had launched a fierce verbal attack on the BJP, accusing it of using its allies merely as "crutches" to stay in power. He singled out Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on the BJP's dominance in Maharashtra, calling them a veiled insult to current coalition partners - Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena faction and Ajit Pawar's NCP group.

Raut challenged both Shinde and Pawar to quit the government "if they still have self-respect," recalling how the undivided Shiv Sena under Balasaheb Thackeray once helped the BJP rise to prominence in Maharashtra.

'Use and Throw' Politics Allegation

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader accused the BJP of following a "Gujarat pattern" of politics, describing its treatment of allies as a "use and throw" approach. In response, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis defended Shah, clarifying that his "crutches" comment was taken out of context - saying, "Friends are not crutches."

Even as he steps away from the spotlight, Raut remains hopeful about returning to active politics soon. "I am confident of coming back stronger," he wrote, ending his post on a note of resilience.