BJP leader Kirit Somaiya says he fears attacks by Sena workers

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has claimed that with a Shiv Sena-led government ruling in Maharashtra, he fears physical assaults by Sena workers.

Somaiya conveyed his fear in a letter written to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, home secretary Sanjay Kumar, Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Barve and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Devendra Fadnavis on December 14.

"It may be noted that I have exposed various scandals of corrupt politicians of NCP and Shiv Sena. Couple of them are jailed and I am afraid that these people may arrange a physical attack on me," he said in the letter.

"I have sent the letter, to inform about the threat so that they can do the needful," Somaiya told PTI.

In his letter, he attached a screenshot of threats he had received on his Facebook page.

"This man is likely to get beaten up in the next five years," said one comment.

Another comment said that Sena workers will have to arrange "a Ravan Dahan" in Mulund (the suburb where Somaiya lives) again.

In October 2016, the BJP leader said, Sena activists had attacked him near his house and some women workers who tried to protect him were injured in the incident.

Somaiya earned Sena workers' ire when in the run-up to the 2017 civic elections -- which the BJP and Sena fought separately despite being in alliance at the state and national level -- he spoke about "mafia of Bandra".

The remark was seen as directed at Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, who lives in suburban Bandra.

Thackeray became chief minister last month after the Sena formed a coalition with the NCP and Congress in the state.