Talking about Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, “He (Mr. Koshyari) murdered democracy and the Constitution and toppled the Uddhav Thackeray-led government,”. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray or UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Monday (January 26, 2026) condemned the Centre’s decision to honour former Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari with the Padma Bhushan, alleging that the latter had “murdered democracy and the Constitution” in the State by toppling the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.
The Union government on Sunday (January 25, 2026) announced the Padma Bhushan award for former Uttarakhand Chief Minister, who served as the Maharashtra Governor from 2019 to 2023.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Raut said that even the Mahayuti government, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, should condemn the decision to award the Padma Bhushan to Mr. Koshyari, who had insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and reformers Mahatma Phule and Savitribai Phule, he alleged.
“He (Mr. Koshyari) murdered democracy and the Constitution and toppled the Uddhav Thackeray-led government,” Mr. Raut said.
The Rajya Sabha MP pointed out that even the Supreme Court had said Mr. Koshyari acted illegally during his tenure as Governor.
Mr. Koshyari wanted to topple the majority government led by Mr. Uddhav Thackeray and bring in a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dispensation in the State, Mr. Raut claimed.
Mr. Koshyari’s tenure as a Governor witnessed several controversies. Mr. Uddhav Thackeray, then CM, had accused him of being overactive, and pointed out that he had not filled 12 vacant seats in the Legislative Council despite the State government’s recommendation.
The former Governor had also faced heat for terming Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as “an icon of the olden times”.
Fadnavis congratulates
Mr. Fadnavis, meanwhile, congratulated Mr. Koshyari over the honour.
“Warmest congratulations to Hon. Bhagat Singh Koshyari ji, former Governor of Maharashtra, on being honoured with the Padma Bhushan Award for 2026. His illustrious journey in public life and his steadfast contributions to governance and nation-building stand as a source of inspiration for generations,” Mr. Fadnavis wrote in a post on social media platform X.
Published – January 26, 2026 10:42 pm IST
