Naidu, Nitish 'dissatisfied souls' after portfolio allocation, claims Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday claimed that BJP allies Nitish Kumar and N Chandrababu Naidu were "dissatisfied souls" following the allocation of portfolios in the Union cabinet.

Talking to reporters here, he also latched onto the term "bhatakti aatma" used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, and said this 'wandering restless soul' will not rest until the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra were dislodged.

If RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat thought that the NDA government at the Centre was not in the interest of the country, he should pull it down, the Rajya Sabha member said. "There are two 'atrupta aatmas' (dissatisfied souls) in the Centre -- (Bihar Chief Minister) Nitish Kumar and (TDP chief) Chandrababu Naidu. You (BJP) should satisfy these two atrupta aatma. The way portfolios have been allocated, it seems all souls are dissatisfied, especially the NDA allies," Raut said. In the portfolio allocation on Wednesday, Lalan Singh of Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United got the Panchayati Raj, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Ministries, while TDP's K Rammohan Naidu got the Civil Aviation Ministry.

JD(S) leader H D Kumarswamy was given the "most rejected" portfolio, Raut commented further. Kumarswamy has got Heavy Industries and Steel ministries. The BJP kept everything for itself, Raut claimed.

Pointing out that there was no Muslim minister in the Modi-led cabinet, the Sena (UBT) leader said it was against the Constitution. "Modi had made it clear during the polls. They want to place a wedge between Hindus and Muslims in the country. He thinks Muslims have not voted for the BJP, which is why they are not in the cabinet," Raut alleged. There was "no life" in the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Raut said, claiming that these parties were formed "out of fear" and with a motive to weaken the Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).