Blow to Sena in Maharashtra as MP set to join Pawar

In a jolt to the Shiv Sena, its member of Parliament from the adjoining Thane district on Friday shared staged with Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, at the latter's party office, and launched a diatribe against the saffron party, saying it was not the Sena of yore.

Anand Paranjpe, Lok Sabha member from Kalyan, made a dramatic entry at the press conference being addressed by Pawar and presented a bouquet to the NCP leader, who said the Sena MP was meeting him for "developmental issues". However, there are indications that Paranjpe has made up his mind to leave Sena and is waiting for the party to take action, so that he can retain his House membership.

"The Sena which was what Bal Thackeray wanted is no more. Loyal Shiv Sainiks are being sidelined in today's Sena," Paranjpe said.

"Earlier Sena was a family. Everyone shared sorrows together but that is not the case now. The only name that came to me when I thought about development issues was that of Pawar saheb and I have come to meet him," he said.

The local Sena leadership in Thane had opposed minorities and Urdu schools, Paranjpe said. "Those who have kicked the saffron flag (of Sena) in the past are being welcomed in that party," he said. "Paranjpe has come to us to seek our cooperation in solving the local developmental issues," Pawar said.

Asked if the move could attract provisions of anti-defection law, Pawar said, "This is not something against the party at party forum on floor of Parliament. He just met us for development issues."

Anand's father Prakash Paranjpe was also a Sena MP. Anand was fielded by the party after his father's demise. Meanwhile, home department sources said security outside Paranjpe's home and office has been stepped up.