Sharad Pawar meets Bal Thackeray

MUMBAI: In a development that could keep political circles abuzz, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar held a prolonged meeting here on Sunday. The meeting assumes significance as it comes just days after former Sena leader Narayan Rane’s outbursts against state chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

“The two leaders discussed various current important issues,” Sena spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut said. But he declined to divulge details of the meeting. Mr Pawar, an old friend of the Sena chief, was at Matoshree, the Thackeray’s residence in suburban Bandra, for over one-and-a-half hour, Mr Raut said.

But political analysts said that the meeting assumes importance as Mr Rane is a ‘common enemy’ of both Mr Thackeray and Mr Pawar.Mr Rane had met Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday after openly criticising chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh’s style of functioning.

Mr Rane has since then been harbouring ambitions of being made the chief minister again. His recent outburst only highlighted his impatience at Mr Deshmukh for being at the helm of affairs in the state.

The meeting between Mr Pawar, whom Mr Rane had criticised in several public meetings in the Maratha strongman’s Pune district, and Mr Thackeray, who had accused Mr Rane of betraying the Sena, is being considered significant in state political circles. Though Mr Raut declined to comment when asked if Mr Rane issue was discussed in the meeting, Sena sources said the two leaders discussed all current issues of significance.