Former Shiv Sena MP Mohan Rawle was today expelled from the party following his statements against Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray's aide Milind Narvekar.
"Mohan Rawle has been expelled from Shiv Sena," party spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut told PTI here.
Rawle, who was elected five times to the Lok Sabha from Mumbai south-central constituency from 1991 onwards, was in the middle of media briefing when the news of expulsion came.
"I am not surprised by this action, which has come because I spoke out against Narvekar," Rawle told reporters.
"Narvekar is responsible for the the present plight of Sena. They don't have the guts to remove Narvekar," Rawle said, in a veiled attack on Uddhav's style of functioning.
"When Balasaheb (the late Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray) was there, I used to be called to Matoshree (Thackeray residence) if there were issues concerning me and I used to clarify," Rawle said.
"But things have changed so much that even as an MP, I had to wait four years to meet Uddhav," he said.
"Shiv Sena is on the way to becoming a party of 'dalals' (middlemen)," Rawle said.
"I won't tender an apology to anyone," he said. "It is Narvekar who is managing Sena affairs."
Asked what he thought about Uddhav and his estranged cousin, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray teaming up, Rawle said, "if they come together, it will benefit Maharashtra."
Rawle had raised eyebrows in political circles when he met Raj Thackeray recently. He had clarified that it was a courtesy call.
