Raj, Rane factor does not affect Shiv Sena

Mumbai, Feb 2 (UNI) It is jubilation time for the Shiv Sena as it has managed to keep the party's citadel intact here and in Thane despite the exit of two party leaders - Narayan Rane and Raj Thackeray.

Sena had been facing rough weather since the exit of the stalwarts - Rane was chucked out of the party in July '05 while Raj Thackeray, newphew of Sena Supremo Balasaheb Thackeray left the party to float his own outfit Maharashtra Navnirman Sena the same year - and had lost seven byelections and won only one.

However, things seem to have changed with Shiv Sena retaining its power in BMC and TMC.

Uddhav Thackeray's leadership qualities came under the scanner after these defeats. People started doubting whether the allegations levelled by Rane and Raj against Uddhav were true.

After completing four years since he took over as the Executive President of Shiv Sena on January 31, Uddhav now has reason to smile as he managed to keep the party's citadel intact.

Raj Thackeray, who had fielded his candidates in all the 227 wards of Mumbai, hardly made any major impact. His party, however, managed to get a few seats and defeat some of the BJP-Sena's candidates.

He did make a good dent in Nashik and Pune and is likely to play a key role in electing the Mayor of Nashik.

Rane, on the other hand, did not make any impact in Mumbai as most of his followers who had contested on Congress ticket, had lost.

UNI