Thackeray climbs down on Ganesh Naik, Sainiks say no

However, determined not to capitulate to Naik’s decision to field his own candidate from his Nagari Vikas Agadhi, the corporators and local leaders say they will defy Thackeray’s diktat and fight Naik with the ballot. They called on the party chief today, and explained their stance. The office-bearers, who don’t vote, however, decided to go withThackeray and tendered their resignations.

Rajya Sabha member Satish Pradhan, who oversees the party in Thane as well as Vilas Avchat, the up-neta for Navi Mumbai, told Express Newsline that the Sena corporators would definitely contest tomorrow’s elections. “Though it was mandatory for us to obey the orders of Balasaheb, we wanted to prove our loyalty to him and we shall do it through the ballot. Yes, the aghadi does appear strong in the numbers game, but their strength is only on paper. We shall contest the elections and win as we have the support of most of the corporators being `kidnapped’ by Ganesh Naik’s men,” Pradhan said.

Agreeing, Avchat said the poll results would “prove the Sena’s power in Navi Mumbai”. He, however, refused to divulge the party’s strategy.

Meanwhile, the 27 rebel corporators, now with the aghadi, are still huddled in a farmhouse outside Mumbai, discussing strategy.

After `disappearing’ on Sunday night, they are adamant on fielding Vijaya Mhatre for the mayoralelection. Naik has been orchestrating the revolt by `remote control’, while keeping away from the Press. He says he will make a statement only after May 25.

Chief Minister Manohar Joshi today trotted out the party line, saying the developments in Navi Mumbai will not have any adverse impact on the Sena. Asked if Naik should be expelled, Joshi said it was for Thackeray to take a decision. “So far as my personal opinion is concerned, I have communicated it to Thackeray,” he said.

Joshi said if the Sena’s mayoral candidates withdraw from the contest, it should not be interpreted as defeat. “On occasion, one has to take such decisions in the larger interest of the party,” he added.PThe spirit of rebellion is, meanwhile, spreading among Sainiks in Mira-Bhayander with amazing momentum. Five of the six Sena councillors in the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Council (MBMC) today pledged their support to Naik’s Nagari Vikas Aghadi, the odd man out being Vasudeo Nambiar, a staunch Thackeray supporter.

All five havedecided to resign from the party but will retain their seats as councillors. They will urge the Thane collector and the MBMC’s chief officer to allow them to be seated in the council as a separate entity representing the agadhi. They are: Prabhakar Mhatre, Chandrakant Mhatre, Parkash Dubole, Chhaya Kini and Ravindra Mali.

Says Prakash Dubole, one of the dissidents: “The decision to quit the Sena and support Ganesh Naik was taken late last night at a special meeting of councillors. It is an expression of support for the treatment meted out to Naik by the party, which has sacked a capable and devoted minister like Naik.”

In the NMMC’s House of 57, the Sena has 7 corporators left, the aghadi 27, the Congress 13 and Independents 10.

But the ripple-effect appears to have seeped even deeper, into the Sena’s very grassroot machinery. Dubole claims that several shakha pramukhs, upashakha pramukhs have also decided to desert the party and will discuss their strategy at a meeting late tonight. The Sena has fourshakha pramukhs here and over 300 Sainiks. But Sena’s opponents, it appears, cannot punish the party enough. Councillors cutting across party lines have also expressed their support to Naik, with 22 of them and scores of Naik followers `disappearing’ from Bhayander over the last two days to discuss strategy with their Navi Mumbai counterparts at clandestine meetings being held at a farmhouse on the outskirts of Mumbai since Saturday.

However, councillors of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Sena’s alliance partner, refuse to comment. While watching the drama unfold before their very eyes with increasing trepidation, they have resolved to maintain a tactical silence.

Supporting Naik in Kalyan-Dombivli are 14 rebel corporators, who have defected to the agadhi. The agadhi here also plans to move a no-confidence motion against the mayor. In Thane too, Naik supporters have vowed to split the party before their coup de grace – decapitating the civic corporation.