The Hindu : National : Sainiks denied ticket revolt

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Wednesday, Sep 22, 2004

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National

Sainiks denied ticket revolt

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, SEPT. 21. Perhaps for the first time, the Shiv Sena is facing an open rebellion in its ranks. Reports have come in of several members who have been denied the party ticket for the coming Maharashtra Assembly elections filing nominations as Independents.

Former MLA Ramesh Prabhoo has filed his nomination as an Independent from Vile Parle. Dr. Prabhoo, a former Mayor of Mumbai, told The Hindu: "I was sure of getting a ticket. So many people have done wrong and got a ticket but not me. I am the one who brought the issues of Hindutva and Savarkar to the forefront in the past. What is wrong with me?"

"I feel the people are going to vote for me and the Sena candidate is bound to lose as I have a large following," said Dr. Prabhoo, who won on the Sena ticket in 1987. However, the Bombay High Court set aside his election.

Two-time MLA, Bhaskar Jadhav, who has been denied the ticket, spent several hours last week at the residence of the Sena chief, Bal Thackeray, but was not allowed to meet him.

Mr. Jadhav later wrote a letter pointing out several things that were wrong with the party.

Mr. Jadhav, who won the Chiplun Assembly seat in 1995 and 1999, has declared an open revolt. Yesterday, he filed his nomination as an Independent candidate, with the support of thousands of party workers.

Sena leaders are trying to stem the discontent and are talking to the candidates who have filed nominations as Independents. Some of them are likely to withdraw.

The Sena list has candidates who are considered close to the heir apparent, Udhav Thackeray. The former Minister, Ravindra Mane, has not been given the ticket from Sangameshwar. Similar is the case of Vishaka Raut, former Mayor of Mumbai.

The rebellion is not confined to Mumbai or the Konkan regions. In Marathwada, the sitting MLA, Kisan Rao Kale, filed his nomination from Sillod as an Independent. In the Kannad constituency, Uday Singh Rajput too filed his nomination after being denied the ticket.

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