Mumbai: After former Sena Spokesperson Rahul Narvekar, it's the turn of five-time Sena MP Mohan Rawale to join Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party.
Mr Rawale, who was expelled last December from the Shiv Sena for alleged anti-party activities, said, "I met honorable Sharad Pawar. I am going to Mumbai with him. I am going to them unconditionally."
The political churn in the Sena post the demise of Bal Thackeray has seen sitting MPs and leaders quit.
Mr Narvekar had blamed the party leadership for his exit from the party.
Infact, in the last one month, three sitting Sena MPs from Shirdi, Parbhani and Maval have left the party after pointing fingers at Uddhav Thackeray. But the Shiv Sena says it's simply a case of political opportunism as they were all denied tickets.
Senior Journalist Kumar Ketkar told NDTV, "Uddhav Thackeray is definitely losing the grip but it is not new. It has nothing to do with post Balasaheb Thackeray's death. Uddhav Thackeray was never fully in command and that party is being managed by Uddhav like some kind of a manager, not as a political leader."
Uddhav Thackeray however insists those leaving the party are traitors. "Those who are going back on the oath they have taken in front of Balasaheb Thackeray, I do not care about them. Let them go wherever they want. I have loyal Shiv Sainiks and they are enough to realise the dream of Bal Thackeray," he said.
The NCP blames Uddhav's lack of political skills for the churn in the Sena. NCP Spokesperson Nawab Malik told NDTV, "When Balasaheb Thackeray was alive, he appealed to the people of Maharashtra to take care of Uddhav and Aditya. That means he was not sure that Uddhav will be able to carry the Shiv Sena as a strong party"
Apart from the flight of leaders, the larger worry for Mr Thackeray is the growing unease with the BJP that seems more keen to join hands with his charismatic cousin Raj Thackeray.
Mr Rawale, who was expelled last December from the Shiv Sena for alleged anti-party activities, said, "I met honorable Sharad Pawar. I am going to Mumbai with him. I am going to them unconditionally."
The political churn in the Sena post the demise of Bal Thackeray has seen sitting MPs and leaders quit.
Infact, in the last one month, three sitting Sena MPs from Shirdi, Parbhani and Maval have left the party after pointing fingers at Uddhav Thackeray. But the Shiv Sena says it's simply a case of political opportunism as they were all denied tickets.
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Uddhav Thackeray however insists those leaving the party are traitors. "Those who are going back on the oath they have taken in front of Balasaheb Thackeray, I do not care about them. Let them go wherever they want. I have loyal Shiv Sainiks and they are enough to realise the dream of Bal Thackeray," he said.
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Apart from the flight of leaders, the larger worry for Mr Thackeray is the growing unease with the BJP that seems more keen to join hands with his charismatic cousin Raj Thackeray.
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