New front by axed Sena ministers

Nawale, Ganesh Naik, Gulabrao Gawande had revolted against the Sena leadership. Their presence in the party was a formality, he said. Although the fronts formed by Naik in Mumbai, Gawande in Vidharbha and by him in Marathwada had different identities, their views were the same, Nawale said. The forum would contest the elections independently and hoped it would receive good support.

Nawale alleged that Chief Minister Manohar Joshi and Shiv Sena leaders Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray had hatched a conspiracy to defame the three rebels. They had also spread rumours that Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde was supporting them. Nawale said they were not backed by Munde although he had made attempts to ensure that they did not give up their posts. Nawale said they will not join the Bharatiya Janata Party or the Congress.

Nawale claimed to have the backing of at least 27 independent MLAs. He predicted heavy losses for the Shiv Sena in the next assembly elections. He said the attack against him only proved that the Shiv Sena could stomach defeat.

He said he had gone to the Panchmarhi session of the Congress only to know the mind of the Congress leadership.

Nawale alleged that Sena supremo Bal Thackeray was controlled by Chief Minister Joshi, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray. The party had its `independent machinery’ to exert pressure on the activists from the rural areas belonging to the Bahujan Samaj Party, he charged. He added that he would not succumb to any pressure.

He said Transport Minister Divakar Raote’s actions would destabilise his party. Joshi did not trust Raote who had secured a ministerial berth only because of pressure from the Thackerays, Nawale said.

He said the Shiv Sena supported candidates from Marathwada for selfish motives.