Wednesday, July 13 2005 11:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Hours after resigning as Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra assembly, expelled Shiv Sena leader Narayan Rane yesterday (July 12, 2005) said that he was not 'unhappy' over Speaker's ruling upholding the election of Ramdas Kadam as leader of Shiv Sena Legislature group on July 6.

"It was never about the numbers", Rane told reporters at the Vidhan Bhawan. He claimed that he still enjoyed support of 11 Sena Members of Legislative Assembly (MLA's).

"I will decide about the future course of my political career in the next few days", he said.

Rane, who met National Congress Party (NCP) Chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on Monday night (July 11, 2005).

"One thing is sure. I am not going to sit idle at home", he added. Lashing out at the Thackeray family, he said that Sena was 'private property of Thackeray family.'

"How can I take over Sena, which is the private property of Thackeray family", Rane said commenting on Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray's remarks that his attempt to `take over' the party had failed.The party has 63 MLA in the house.

Rane said, "Wasn't it a failure on part of Uddhav that 12 of his party MLAs had gone away. These 12 MLAs continue to be a part of Sena legislature group",

Rane said. "In order to make Kadam as the next Leader of Opposition, they will require signatures of the 12 MLAs as well".

Asked if he would give the signatures, Rane said "So far there has been no request for the same, so where is the question of our giving or not giving".

Stating that 'things have been happening as planned'. Rane said 25,000 supporters were outside his house compared to over 700 outside Uddhav's house on Monday.