Narayan Rane says 4 Uddhav Thackeray-loyalist MLAs in touch with him

Union Minister Narayan Rane on Saturday claimed four MLAs of the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena were in touch with him to join the Eknath Shinde-led faction. He, however, didn't reveal the names of the four MLAs.

He said from 56 MLAs, Uddhav Thackeray now has the loyalty of just six-seven MLAs. He claimed most of them want to leave and joined the camp led by the Maharashtra Chief Minister.

"Four MLAs are in touch with me but I won't divulge their names," Rane told PTI.

He said the Shiv Sena now has no faction left as Thackeray's politics is now limited to his house Matoshree.

Earlier this year, Eknath Shinde, a former loyalist of the Thackeray family, openly rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray claiming he was taking the Shiv Sena off the path of Hindutva set by founder Bal Thackeray. Gradually, scores of MLAs joined the Shinde camp.

Eknath Shinde toppled the Thackeray government formed in alliance with ideologically opposite Congress and NCP.

Shinde later formed a government in alliance with the BJP.

The Thackeray family calls Shinde and those supporting him traitors.

The two factions will clash with each other in the Andheri bypolls.