Mumbai: Pandurang Barora, NCP legislator from Shahapur, is all set to join the Shiv Sena. Senior Sena leader and PWD minister (MSRDC & public undertaking) Eknath Shinde has taken the initiative and organised a meeting between Barora and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. However, Shinde’s move has upset three-time Sena legislator Daulat Daroda.
Sena loyalists have threatened not to work for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Kapil Patil in Bhiwandi Lok Sabha constituency and boycott the polls. Shinde, who has single-handedly controlled the Thane district, is facing a revolt during the ongoing LS polls.
The revolt came to the surface when Shinde wooed Barora and assured him to give Sena ticket from Shahapur in the Assembly polls. Recently, Barora met Shinde and Milind Narvekar, a Sena secretary, at the MSRDC office. Barora is a first-time legislator whereas Daroda has represented this constituency three times, in 1995, 1999 and 2009.
“Though the Sena is in majority in Thane Zilla Parishad, Ambernath Municipal Council, Shahapur and Wada Panchayat Samitis and Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMC), Shinde has given key posts to NCP as part of a political understanding to keep his hold on the district,” said a disappointed Sena functionary from Shahapur.
Shinde is facing a revolt in Bhiwandi as well as in Palghar Lok Sabha constituencies. Shiv Sainiks are not ready to campaign for Rajendra Gavit, who has switched over to Sena from the BJP to contest from the Palghar LS constituency. In Bhiwandi, Sainiks are up against BJP candidate Kapil Patil, who they blame has tried to finish the Sena in his constituency.
A joint campaign meeting of BJP and Shiv Sena held at Dolkhamb in Bhiwandi constituency was canceled as Sainiks boycotted it. Sena taluka in-charge faced the wrath of the party workers and failed to answer any questions raised during the meeting.
“If the Sena continues to ignore and sideline party loyalists, we will boycott LS polls,” threatened Haribhau Shinde, deputy taluka in-charge of Sena. He further said, “If Sena gives entry to Barora against whom we have been fighting for last 25 years and give him the party ticket, Sena will split and we may take extreme steps against guardian minister Shinde.
The minister cannot play with Sena for his own political career.” Mahadu Barora, the father of sitting NCP legislator Pandurang Barora, has represented the Shahapur Assembly constituency four times — in 1980, 1985, 1990 and 2004. “
I am a Sena loyalist and have started visiting villages in anticipation that the party will once again give me the ticket from the Shahapur Assembly,” said Daroda and added that he would make his stand clear at the appropriate time. Barora was busy in poll campaign in Maval and could not be contacted.
