Mumbai, Feb. 11 -- Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut alleged on Sunday that the Bharat Ratna awards announced by the Centre are being conferred for "political benefits" ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

"Bharat Ratna is given after seeing the political benefits of it," Raut said while addressing a press conference in Mumbai on Sunday.

Stating that only three people can be awarded the Bharat Ratna in a year, the Rajya Sabha MP said that the government was giving the award to five people.

"All this is being done for political benefits...Chaudhary Charan Singh (former Prime Minister) is being awarded Bharat Ratna because they want Jayant Chaudhary to join their party...," he alleged.

There have been speculations ...