Thackeray sacks Tanwani for indiscipline

MUMBAI, AUG 17: In a move to contain growing discontent in the organisation over the nomination for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections,...

MUMBAI, AUG 17: In a move to contain growing discontent in the organisation over the nomination for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray today sacked senior Sena leader of the party from Marathwada, Kishanchand Tanwani, who was head of the Aurangabad city unit of the party, for gross indiscipline.

Apparently, Tanwani had lodged a strong protest against the nomination of Forest and Environment Minister Chandrakant Khaire from the Aurangabad Parliamentary constituency and also party nominees for the Assembly seats from the Marathwada region.

This was for the first time in the recent past that the Shiv Sena has sacked a senior office bearer of the party for breach of discipline.8220;It is true that there is no practice of dismissal of office bearers from the party. But in case of Tanwani, it was found that his behaviour was counterproductive for the party and therefore, Thackeray decided to sack him,8221;Sena leader Subhash Desai said.

When asked as to why no action was takenagainst Ganesh Naik, Suresh Nawale and Gulabrao Gawande, Desai said that Naik has submitted his resignation from the party on Monday, which has been accepted with immediate effect. According to reports, Naik, who has joined Sharad Pawar8217;s Nationalist Congress Party, will now be its official nominee from the Belapur Assembly constituency.

While the then forest and environment minister Ganesh Naik was sacked from the Cabinet after he refused to resign, Nawale and Gawande had resigned from the Cabinet to protest against the indifferent style of functioning of the party leadership. Along with Naik, Gawande has also joined the NCP, though Nawale is yet undecided.

On the criticism of the party leadership by Vijay Salvi, who has been denied nomination from Rajapur Assembly constituency, Desai said that so far, his party has not received any reports against him.

Desai also announced the tour programme of Thackeray, Uddhav and Raj, Chief Minister Narayan Rane and former chief minister Manohar Joshi. In the firstphase of campaigning, Thackeray will address a public meeting at Amravati on August 21 and at Kalmeshwar in Nagpur district on August 22.

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While Rane will visit Nanded and Osmanabad districts on August 19, 20 and 21, Uddhav too will visit Marathwada from August 18 to 21. Joshi and Raj Thackeray will tour Vidarbha during the period.

The Shiv Sena today nominated Somnath Mengal, Dilip Mohite and Chhagan Mehetre from Nagar Akole, Khed Alandi and Sindhkhed Raja Assembly constituencies and left the Manwedha constituency in Solapur district for the Dalit Panther, led by Namdeo Dhasal.