Fifty year old Ajay Choudhary is living in uncertain times. A Shiv Sena Vibhag Pramukh, Choudhary is election agent of Shiv Sena nominee Mohan Rawale from South Central Mumbai constituency. On the day, the parliament was dissolved, the Mumbai police withdrew his security without assigning any reasons. On one hand there is mounting pressure from the Shiv Sena activists, while on the other hand, Choudhary is facing frequent threats from underworld don Arun Gawli, who is likely to contest against Rawale, who was once his sympathiser. In fact, Choudhary is a real link between top Shiv Sena leaders including sena supremo Bal Thackeray, Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray and half a dozen heads of the assembly segments and more than two dozen Shakha Pramukhs in the area. In addition, he is also coordinating with 16 corporators, four legislators and a Member of Parliament. Choudhary says Arun Gawli is making his presence felt in the area but it will not have any adverse impact on the prospects of Shiv Sena nominee Mohan Rawale. ‘‘Gawli has come in the picture only in the recent past. He is indulging in a new kind of terrorism. He is calling innocent residents to his hideout and threatening them with dire consequences. But Shiv Sena is not afraid of his anti-social activities since it has undertaken a series of social and welfare projects here ever since its inception.’’ For Choudhary, the instructions of the higher ups are very clear. Ensure that the illegal and unauthorised activities of Gawli are brought to the notice of the Municipal Commissioner and Police Commissioner and also see that the don does not cause any harm to the party activists at the grassroot level. As a true sainik, Choudhary is reporting the state of affairs in the parliamentary constituency to Uddhav Thackeray. But what a shock, a militant party like Shiv Sena has to take cognisance of underworld don Arun Gawli, who was once its pride.
