Mumbai, July 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Monday reiterated his claim that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would soon be shifted to the Centre as the Union Education Minister, brushing aside the Chief Minister’s categorical denial of the speculation.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Raut claimed that although Fadnavis has dismissed reports of a move to New Delhi, the final decision rests with the central leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“I say this with confidence, no matter how much he denies it, he will be the next Union Education Minister,” Raut said.
Drawing a comparison with the economic reforms of 1991, Raut said then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao had appointed Dr Manmohan Singh as Finance Minister to lead transformative reforms. He suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should similarly appoint a person from outside the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to revamp the country’s education system, mentioning Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani as a suitable candidate before adding that Fadnavis, if chosen, would also be capable of handling the portfolio.
Rejecting Fadnavis’ assertion that he would remain active in Maharashtra politics, Raut claimed the Chief Minister’s political future would be decided by the BJP’s central leadership.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led government’s education policies, alleging that the RSS-backed approach had weakened India’s modern education system over the past decade. He claimed that while children of political leaders pursue education abroad, students from economically weaker sections are left dependent on what he described as a flawed education system.
Raut credited former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh with laying the foundation of modern educational institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), and alleged that the BJP had reversed that progress.
Commenting on the proposed anti-paper leak legislation, Raut questioned whether stricter punishment alone would address the problem, arguing that effective enforcement was more important than increasing prison terms.
He also said the Opposition would raise the issue of the alleged police action against student protesters in Parliament, demanding accountability for the crackdown and seeking answers on the use of force against demonstrators.
Responding to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s recent remarks on the Opposition’s protests, Raut said the student movement had gathered momentum and announced that the Opposition’s next demonstration would be held in Thane.
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