Shiv Sena, Rane gear up for Round 2

The possible voting on the supplementary budgetary demands of the Vilasrao Deshmukh government in Maharashtra on Tuesday is likely to be use...

The possible voting on the supplementary budgetary demands of the Vilasrao Deshmukh government in Maharashtra on Tuesday is likely to be used as a rallying point by the faction-ridden Shiv Sena.

The party has issued a whip to all 62 of its MLAs—including 10 supporters of rebel leader Narayan Rane—to be present for the voting. For the Sena, the position of Leader of the Opposition is at stake; for the rebel MLAs, their membership of the party and the Assembly is on the line.

Sena MLAs disobeying the party whip face the risk of being disqualified. And if that happens, the Sena faces the possibility of losing the Opposition leader’s post, as its partner, the BJP (54 MLAs) is next in line.

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Although the party has been soft on Rane’s supporters since his revolt, it has given clear indications that action will be taken in the event of the whip being defied. “We are sure that those who are on the other side would stay with the party,” a senior Sena leader said. “They stand to lose their membership if they defy the whip. Would they want to go back to the electorate for a fresh mandate?”

As things stand, rebel MLAs are feeling the pressure. “We will do as Rane says,” said Kalidas Kolambkar, one of his staunch supporters.

However, eight of them met at Rane loyalist Vinayak Nimhans’ residence in Pune and indicated that they would follow the party whip. Sources said the rebel MLAs had taken the decision to avoid action against them under the Anti-Defection Act.

(With ENS/Pune)

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