No MPs are quitting Sena, says Uddhav

MUMBAI Dismissing reports of some Shiv Sena MPs quitting the party as “baseless rumours”, Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray said the issue was not discussed at a meeting of party MPs held here on Monday. Asked if all MPs were present at the meeting, Uddhav said all of them, except Tukaram Renge Patil, were present. Mr Renge Patil could not attend the meeting as he had a ‘puja’ at home, he said.

“We don’t discuss rumours,” Uddhav said when asked if reports (about some MPs on way out of Sena) were discussed. Subodh Mohite, whose name recently figured along with that of Prakash Paranjpe in the list of disgruntled Sena MPs, was also present at the meeting. “He is there upstairs,” Uddhav said.

Asked about seat-sharing with BJP for Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, Uddhav said, “Talks with BJP are nearing completion”. The meeting was addressed by Sena chief Bal Thackeray at Shiv Sena Bhawan in central Mumbai.

Sena chief Bal Thackeray will be the star campaigner for these elections and would address public meetings in Mumbai and Thane, he said. Asked about the Sena chief’s statement last year that he would not address election campaign meetings, Uddhav said, “He had said it in connection with by-polls.” Mumbai contributes almost 40% to the total income-tax collection of the country, but gets little in return, Uddhav said.

“I have asked Sena MPs to raise the issue in Parliament and demand that the city gets at least 25% of its contribution in return,” he said.

Asked about the challenge posed by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena floated by his cousin Raj Thackeray, who parted ways with the Shiv Sena last year, Uddhav said, “It is not a challenge”. Uddhav expressed his dismay over the “inability” of Dalit Leaders to respond to the call for unity of ‘Shiv Shakti (Sainiks) and Bheem Shakti’ (Ambedkar’s followers).