Rane to hold mega meetings in city

"Konkanis in Mumbai "

After losing the battle of the MLAs, rebel Sena leader Narayan Rane is taking the fight to the people.

Rane is busy organising meetings in Sena strongholds and as a result, the Sena leadership has been feeling jittery, after seeing the crowds that throng his meetings.

6,000 hear him speak

Rane had organised a meeting two days ago at Nare Park, Parel, where a crowd of more than 6,000 people had come to hear him speak. Over the next couple of weeks, Rane organised some more meetings in Sena strongholds to show his strength.

Sena presence

But more than just the throngs, what really troubles the Sena leadership is the presence of die-hard Sena men at the meeting.

Significantly, Rane’s next meeting will decide who controls the BEST union. Rane has called a meeting of BEST Kamgar Sena at Delisle Road, Lower Parel on July 23.

Rane speaks in Sena strongholds

“Speaking openly against the Sena or against any of the Thackeray family members would have been unthinkable in the Parel-Dadar area.

“Rane however doesn’t seem to be affected by it and is, in fact, gaining the sympathy of the Konkani community who feel that one of their own
has been wronged,” said a Sena functionary supporting Rane.

He added that the Sena would be hard hit as the Konkanis have a significant presence in this belt.

‘He thinks he’s been sacrificed’

“Rane’s trump card is his claim that he has been sacrificed by Thackeray Sr for his son Uddhav. In this regard, public sympathy is with him.

However, it remains to be seen whether these people would actually stay with Rane once he joins the NCP or the Congress,” said a Sena corporator.