BOMBAY, 4 July 2005 — A coughing and unwell Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray yesterday afternoon announced the expulsion of his Man Friday Narayan Rane, a former chief minister and leader of the opposition in the state legislature from the Shiv Sena for anti party activities. The expulsion of Rane did not cause any surprise in the political circles, for this was expected. However, the shock of expulsion was seen in the Sena camp.
Addressing a crowded press conference at the Sena headquarters, flanked by his son Uddhav Thackeray to his right and nephew Raj Thackeray, the Shiv Sena chief, roared like a wounded tiger and declared that he had expelled Narayan Rane from the party. “Rane is ungrateful and has betrayed me. He was threatening party leaders and mobilizing party workers to raise slogans by his name,” said Thackeray and asked Rane to immediately resign from the state legislature as he was no longer associated with the Shiv Sena.
While Bal Thackeray was addressing the press conference, supporters of Rane and Uddhav and Raj, shouted slogans in favor of their leaders and clashed outside the Sena Bhavan.
Answering questions in English, Marathi and Hindi, Bal Thackeray said that Rane was giving wrong statements about Shiv Sena and had no valid reasons to be angry with his son Uddhav Thackeray, the working president of the party. Complimenting his son for performing good work for the party, Thackeray said that he would not tolerate any kind of indiscipline.
Denying Rane’s allegation that money was taken for distributing tickets to candidates for elections, Thackeray said that if these charges were proven against his son or nephew, they will be thrown out of the party, and if proved against him, he would quit the Shiv Sena.
Asked if the removal of Rane would affect the party, Thackeray said that several leaders have left in the past, but it had no effect, but on the contrary the image of his party gained. He asked to find out what had happened to those who left the party.
“I am not afraid of the consequences, and have nothing to fear about,” said Thackeray when asked if he anticipated any danger to the party after several leaders having deserted him.
Responding to his expulsion from the party by Thackeray, Rane too like his mentor addressed a crowded press conference. He refrained from criticizing Bal Thackeray, but launched an attack on his son Uddhav Thackeray.
Rane said that even though he has been expelled by Thackeray, he still considers himself to be a Shiv Sena party activist.
