After being snubbed by the Shiv Sena, Kolhapur royal Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, who had earlier announced that he would contest the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls as an independent candidate, on Friday said he would not be contesting the election.
Accusing Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray of “breaking his word”, Sambhajiraje - an influential Maratha community leader and a direct descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji – said his decision should not be considered as a withdrawal and that it was taken to keep his self-respect intact.
“Two Sena MPs were sent to meet me by the CM. They told me that I should enter the Shiv Sena and that the party would immediately announce my candidature for the RS seat. But I clearly told them that I will fight as an independent and not join the Sena. Then, Mr. Thackeray called me over to talk at his official residence ‘Varsha.’ He said we [Shiv Sena] want the Chhatrapati on our side, but I declined the proposal as it would have meant joining the Sena,” said Sambhajiraje, speaking to reporters in Mumbai.
