Tuesday, August 16 2005 12:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Nagpur: Maharashtra Revenue Minister Narayan Rane, who joined Congress after being expelled from the Shiv Sena last month, today (Aug 16, 2005) said Sena leader Raj Thackeray's remarks on 'incompetent leaders' in the saffron party are too late to save the sinking ship of Shiv Sena.

"The Shiv Sena is a sinking ship and nobody can save it. The comment by junior Thackeray that 'The Shiv Sena has some incompetent and useless leaders and needs changing of faces' is too late," Rane told newspersons in an informal chat in Nagpur.

"Had he made these observations when I was expelled from party after my 39 years association, there could have been some propriety in his utterances," Rane, who is to tour the rain-affected Chandrapur district first time after his induction as Revenue Minister, said.

Raj had yesterday (Aug 15, 2005) told reporters in Mumbai that "incompetent" leaders in Shiv Sena should make way for result-oriented leadership.

"There are some good leaders but those people who are not producing results, they should be replaced by new faces. If someone is not working, others should be brought in their places", he had said.

To a question, he ruled out Raj's leaving Sena. Quoting him (Raj), Rane said he (Raj, Sena supremo Bal Thackeray's nephew) is bonded by blood relations and will continue to remain with Sena.

When his attention was drawn to the post of Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Rane took a dig at the saffron alliance saying "Sena-BJP will never come to power in future due to prevailing political situation and weakening of both parties."

Firing a salvo at the Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray, Rane said, "He (Uddhav) does not have the required qualities of a party chief. Forget about party chief, he is not even fit to be a 'shakha pramukh' (chief of local unit)."

Rane further said, "11 legislators and five MPs from the state are in constant touch with him. Their names would be revealed at an appropriate time."

He pooh poohed Sena's claim of calling a 'Maharashtra bandh' after some Senamen supporting him were cane-charged for rowdy behaviour by police in Mumbai last month.

"Why he (Uddhav) could not carry out the 'bandh call'?" Rane asked adding, "He (Uddhav) is not a man of the masses but prefers to run politics from air-conditioned office."

About the Sena mouthpiece 'Samna' which is carrying out a vicious campaign against him, Rane clarified that he would not approach the Press Council of India against it.

However, criticising its editor Sanjay Raut, Rane said, "Everybody knows who he is?" and blamed him (Raut) for dividing Thackeray brothers Uddhav and Raj.

Rane was accompanied by two Sena MLAs from Vidarbha region Vijay Wadwattiwar (Chimur) and Prakash Bharsakale (Anjangaon Surji).