JOIN USThis reveals the Sena’s frustration and anger over the loss of all six seats in Mumbai and three in neighbouring Thane district (which were its strongholds), due to the pro-Marathi Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Among the beneficiaries of the MNS’ ‘perfidy’ were the Congress’ Sanjay Nirupam, Priya Dutt and Milind Deora, all non-Marathis, against whom the MNS has been making a lot of noise, sometimes even laced with violence. They were clearly benefited by the division of Marathi votes, Shiv Sena said.
More than the loss of Mumbai seats, the Sena chief was deeply hurt by the defeat of the Sena candidate in Thane, which was had been a Sena fortress.
“The saffron march continued in rest of the state but Mumbai and Thane have given me pain at this age,” Bal Thackeray said in Saamana. Without naming nephew and the MNS leader Raj Thackeray, the Sena chief said: “The Congress took the help of Suryaji Pisal to divide Marathi votes”. (Suryaji Pisal was a renegade Maratha who in 1689 opened the defences of the Raigad fort to the besieging Mughal invaders.)
DH News Service