Derecognise Sena: Rane

A former Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Revenue Minister Narayan Rane has appealed to the Election Commission to withdraw recognition to the Sena “for posing serious threat to the unity of India”.

Rane, who leaves no opportunity to take a potshot at the Sena and its executive president Uddhav Thackeray, argued that the revocation of Election Commission’s recognition to the Sena was “necessary for its violation of various provisions of the Constitution of India, and its own constitution”. “The Shiv Sena should submit an affidavit promising to abide by the provisions of the Constitution of India and the party,” he said.

Rane, who left the Sena in July 2005 and joined the Congress, alleged that the Shiv Sena had been engaged in disrupting law and order situation. “If the party fails to meet its promise, the Election Commission should withdraw recognition,” he added.

Rane’s missive comes in the wake of Sena’s agitation against actor Shah Rukh Khan for his statement in favour of Pakistani cricketers.

Meanwhile, Rane’s entry into the Sena-Shah Rukh tussle is being seen by political players as an attempt to score a browny point over Chief Minister Ashok Chavan. They said Chavan was isolated by the Congress on the issue. “Though Rane has been reinstated as revenue minister, he has been sulking ever since for being denied the chief minister’s post by the Congress high command,” said a source from Maharashtra politics.