Shiv Sena to agitate outside Fadnavis’ home

Mumbai: Shiv Sena workers will stage a protest in front of Varsha, the official residence of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Tuesday, demanding the expulsion of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Shivaji Kardile, party sources have said.

The Ahmednagar police, meanwhile, were likely to arrest over 500 local Shiv Sena workers who had agitated on April 7 after the murder, the sources said.

Despite the Sena’ s demand to remove Mr Kardile from the BJP after his arrest for allegedly vandalising the office of the superintendent of police, Mr Fadnavis has not taken any steps.

Sena workers allege that the police in Ahmednagar have not taken action against several other BJP workers who were involved in vandalising the office.

The Sena action in front of Mr Fadnavis’ residence is likely to escalate the rift between the two parties that share power in the state and the Centre.

A proposed visit of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to the Nanar site of Indo-Saudipetroleum project on April 23 to support the villagers’ stir could put more distance between the two parties.

Mr Thackeray discussed the issue of the likely arrest of Sena leaders in Ahmednagar with his deputies and asked the workers to protest in front of the chief minister’s house.

Sources say Mr Fadnavis may speak to Mr Thackeray on the telephone to pre-empt any ugly incidents. But the workers plan to protest near Varsha and get arrested, they say.

Environment Minister Eknath Shinde of the Sena demanded the death sentence to those guilty of murdering Sena activists in Ahmednagar after meeting the family of the victims.

Mr Shinde said the home department directly under Mr Fadnavis is acting against the Sena. The police have taken into custody a mere 20-25 BJP workers arrested, he said.