Sena’s Saturday Shock: Rane dares Tiger’s cub

Sources in the NCP told The Indian Express that Rane had held three rounds of talks with party president Sharad Pawar to work out the modalities for his entry into the NCP. They met last in New Delhi on June 24.

If Rane quits the Sena, it would be a big blow to the party as it was he who built the party in the Konkan region. Rane’s unahappiness with the party and his talks with the NCP were first reported by The Indian Express last month.

Rane said in Mumbai today that he was not happy with the way the party had sidelined him. Even while rumours about his resignation did the rounds, party executive president Uddhav Thackeray chose to discuss it with others, not him, he said. He said he felt that the party no longer needed him but clarified that he had no grudge with Bal Thackeray.

‘‘I have come to the conclusion that the party doesn’t require my services so I have decided to step down,’’ Rane told reporters at his official residence in Mumbai. Rane said he would hand over his resignation to Sena supremo Bal Thackeray tomorrow.

Asked if he would quit as leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, Rane said he would take a decision on the issue on Monday. Rane said the last time he met Bal Thackeray was on June 27. ‘‘There have been meetings of the party’s legislators and workers but I have not been invited to these meetings recently,’’ Rane said.

‘‘I was the topic of the meeting called at Matoshree yesterday, where Shiv Sena office-bearers from my Sindhudurg district were invited,’’ Rane said adding that he was not invited for the meeting.

Asked if Uddhav Thackeray was unhappy with him, Rane said: ‘‘He is the party executive president. He must be feeling that my suggestions are not required.’’ Rane said he will not be participating in the meetings of Sena legislators convened here tomorrow.

NCP leader and Maharashtra Food and Supplies Minister Sunil Tatkare is acting as the intermediary between the party and Rane. Rane, sources say, is expected to quit his Assembly seat to cross over to the NCP soon. If all goes according to the NCP script, he may get some other Sena MLAs along.

Sources said Pawar is wooing several influential Shiv Sena leaders and talks are underway with three sitting members of the Lok Sabha— former Union minister Suresh Prabhu (Rajapur), Shivajirao Adhalrao (Khed) and Subodh Mohite (Ramtek). The Sena has a total of 12 members in the Lok Sabha.

Once a blue-eyed boy of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, Rane has not been able to hit it off with his son and political heir Uddhav Thackeray.

The NCP sees the present infighting in the Sena as an ideal opportunity to realise its dream of ruling over Maharashtra single-handed. Since the Sena rank and file has a regional mindset and is antipathetic to Congress, the NCP eyes them as its natural target.