Friday, July 8 2005 20:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: After only ten of the 63 Shiv Sena MLAs today (July 8, 2005) attended the Sena Legislature Party meet convened by expelled Sena leader Narayan Rane, he claimed that 26 of the 50 party MLAs, being 'held captive at a suburban hotel' by supporters of party executive president Uddhav Thackeray, have assured him of their support.

"We would file a petition with the Assembly Speaker on July 11, seeking disqualification of some of the MLAs who did not attend today's meeting", Rane told reporters in Mumbai.

Terming his group as the 'original' Shiv Sena, Rane, referring to Uddav's alleged remarks to 'beat up' the former, the expelled leader said, "Such language does not befit a person holding such a high post".

However, he challenged Uddav to "gather a group of Shiv Sainiks at a place of his choice. I will be there to confront them".

Rane said two MLAs -- Balasaheb Jagtap and Ashok Kale -- who did not attend today's meeting due to personal reasons, have faxed him letters extending their support to him and also stating the reasons for their absence.

"Kale was not among the 50 MLAs that the Ramdas Kadam group had paraded before the Speaker yesterday, although they (Thackeray group) had included his name", Rane said.

Sena MLAs who attended the meeting were Vinayak Nimhan, Manik Kokate, Prakash Bharsakhale, Shyam Sawant, Shankar Kambli, Ganpat Kadam, Subhash Bane, Kalidas Kolambkar and Vijay Vedittiwar, he said.

Rane said he had issued a whip today, asking all Sena MLAs to be present in the House when the monsoon session of the Assembly begins on July 11.