MUMBAI: Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray ’s choice of 12 new Shiv Sena ministers has triggered resentment in a section of party MLAs who couldn’t make it to the final list. Vikhroli MLA Sunil Raut, who was reportedly given to understand that he was dropped at the eleventh hour to accommodate Aaditya Thackeray , said he was planning to resign from his assembly seat.

Sunil is the brother of Sena MLA Sanjay Raut , the Saamna executive editor who was instrumental in paving way for the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. When Sanjay stayed away from the swearing-in, tongues wagged. However, Sunil later clarified that he was a “true and loyal Sainik”.

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This came after Uddhav asked Sanjay not to precipitate matters. Sanjay himself played down the issue, saying, “People should understand we don’t have many options since it’s a government of three parties and there are capable people in all three.”

Sources close to Sanjay said he doesn’t attend stiffcollared “sarkari” events and his absence from the shouldn’t be linked to Sunil being dropped. However, he was present when Uddhav and six others were sworn in on November 28.

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While sources said the CM had quashed the dissent by Monday evening, other sources said Aaditya’s induction has created a flutter in Sena though none is willing to go on record.

Sena MLAs from Mumbai Sunil Prabhu and Ravindra Waikar, both of whom skipped the swearing-in ceremony, are said to be miffed. Several Sena activists from Vidarbha are also said to be unhappy as the “ignored their region”.

Earlier in the day, a Sena MLA from the rural heartland, on knowing that he was not to be sworn in as minister, rushed to Thackeray’s residence and sought an explanation from the CM, it is learnt.

