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Journalism of Courage
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Maharashtra Revenue Minister Narayan Rane arrived here today amidst speculation that the 11 Shiv Sena MLAs backing him are set to join the Congress. There are talks that they would quit their seats and contest afresh on Congress ticket.
Rane told Express that he had an appointment with Congress president Sonia Gandhi tomorrow. On whether the 11 MLAs would accompany him to meet Sonia, he said, ‘‘I can’t say as yet.’’ He confirmed that the MLAs would reach here tomorrow morning. Sources said rooms had been booked for them here.
AICC sources had indicated that the Rane supporters would defect after the by-election slated for November 19 in Malwan, his constituency. But the former Sena leader was said to be expediting the process, after the abusive language used against him by Sena chief Bal Thackeray in his Vijayadashmi address at Shivaji Park yesterday. The Sena chief had called him a king cobra (nagnath) and said that he was a ‘‘vasulmantri’’ (extortionist) and not a ‘‘mahsulmantri’’ (Revenue Minister). He asked Sena supporters to “immerse” Rane.
Rane, according to sources, also believes that the mass defection would be a big blow to the Sena ahead of the Malwan by-election. Thackeray has announced the candidture of Sindhudurg district party president Purushottam Uparkar from the constituency.
The exit of 11 legislators would reduce the Sena strength in the Assembly from 62 to 51, three less than the BJP, which has 54 at present. The Sena would thus forfeit its moral right over the post of leader of the Opposition, currently held by Ramdas Kadam. The BJP, apparently long tired of playing the second fiddle to the Sena, had staked its claim to the post during the last crisis, but had later conceded it to the Sena.
