In politics, nothing happens by accident: Raut ahead of crucial NCP meet

Ahead of the crucial Nationalist Congress Party meeting to decide on its next president, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday said in politics nothing happens by accident.

A committee of senior NCP leaders, including Ajit Pawar, Supriya Sule, former Union minister Parful Patel and Chhagan Bhujbal, is scheduled to meet at 11 am on Friday to decide on who will lead the party following their chief Sharad Pawar's decision to step down earlier this week.

In a cryptic tweet, Raut quoted former US president Franklin D Roosevelt, In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens you can bet it was planned that way.

The move by NCP is expected to have ramifications on the Shiv Sena (UBT) which is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, also comprising the NCP and Congress, that is taking on the Bharatiya Janata Party in Maharashtra.

On Thursday, an editorial in Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana', of which Raut is the executive editor, said the end motive of Pawar's nephew and top NCP