No more can Narayan Rane be sure of disgruntled leaders making a beeline for his camp. Possibility of Raj launching a party promises them an alternative.
No more can Narayan Rane be sure of disgruntled Shiv Sena leaders making a beeline for his camp. The Sena corporators, MPs and MLAs, who had been keen on joining Rane, now have an option - a Raj-sponsored Sena.
The possibility of Raj Thackeray floating a separate organisation may put the brakes on the exodus of disgruntled Sainiks looking for an alternative political platform to Rane's Congress.
A senior official in the Congress said, "The vertical split in the Shiv Sena will upset the horizontal growth of Rane." Majority of the leaders, pushed into a corner by Uddhav, had sought refuge with Raj. Rane wanted to tap such elements, which felt slighted or isolated in the Uddhav sena.
Rane, however, remained tight-lipped. "He is enjoying the confusion in the Sena," his close aide told DNA. "He is just watching the unfolding drama." The revenue minister was busy holding marathon meeting with revenue officials in Sahayadri ( state guest house). He said, "I have nothing to comment on the internal matters of the Shiv Sena."
A confidant of Rane in the Congress, Hussain Dalvai, said, "Irrespective of the prospect of a Raj sena, there is no challenge to Rane in Konkan. Rane will emerge strong in the entire state." Dalvai also indicated that a Mumbai Shiv Sena MLA got in touch with Rane on Monday, expressing his desire to join the Congress.
Another Congress spokesperson, Ananth Gadgil, said, "The Congress will certainly gain from a split in the Shiv Sena. But there is no reason to rejoice. If the Sena is wiped out, it will leave a big vacuum that may be exploited by the BJP in future. It is easier to tackle a regional party like the Sena than a national party like the BJP."
Troubled times
10 MLAs from Konkan have given their consent to join the Congress. Three are thinking of resigning.
Rane joined the Congress and captured at least two prominent Shiv Sena shakhas - in DN Nagar (Jayawant Parab) and Chembur (Hamunath Parab)
Shrikant Sarmalkar, another prominent leader, joined Rane.
It is being said that almost 35 corporators, over a dozen shakha pramukhs and MLAs, have been talking with Rane to switch over to the Congress
If Raj floats a separate organisation, many Sena leaders may join him rather than the Congress.
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