Sanjay Raut's reaction to Mahesh Kothare's 'that' first political statement; "...will choke you"

Sanjay Raut On Mahesh Kothare First Political statement: During a cultural program organized on the occasion of Diwali, a statement made by director and actor Mahesh Kothare has caused quite a stir in political circles. Kothare said, “I am a devotee of Modiji, I am a devotee of BJP,” praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi immensely. He also expressed confidence that “only the lotus will bloom in the Mumbai municipal elections and only BJP will have a mayor in Mumbai.”

Various reactions began to emerge on social media and in political discussions regarding Kothare's statement. Some supported him, while many expressed the opinion that it is not appropriate for an artist to take a political stance. Now, Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) MP Sanjay Raut has responded by taking a jab at Kothare. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Raut said, “Is Mahesh Kothare really Marathi, I have some doubts. Everyone has the right to express their opinion, but you are an artist, and your films have not been watched only by BJP people.”

After this, Raut humorously took a jab at Kothare. “If you say something like this, Tatya Vinchu will bite you, come at night and strangle you!” This statement caused laughter among those present at the gathering. Kothare made this statement at Pravin Darekar's Diwali Pahat program in Borivali. During the program, Mahesh Kothare praised BJP and Modi, saying, “When I came for Piyush Goyal's campaign, I said, they are not electing an MP, they are electing a minister. Now, from this area, not just a corporator but definitely a mayor will be elected.”

Kothare's statement has currently sparked a new topic of discussion in Maharashtra's political circles. While some have welcomed his honest expression of opinion, others have criticized that "artists should avoid taking political stances."