MNS catches Sena Tiger by its tail

It's been a week since Uddhav Thackeray presented an olive branch to estranged cousin Raj, but that has not made any difference to the MNS workers.

It's been a week since Uddhav Thackeray presented an olive branch to estranged cousin Raj, but that has not made any difference to the MNS workers.

In what is possibly an attempt to show that their party is stronger than the Shiv Sena, MNS party workers have put up a hoarding at Parel bridge that reads 'Sinhacha jabdyat ghalun haath, mojin dath hi jaat Marathyachi' which when translated means, "The true Maratha is the one who can put his hand in the lion's mouth and count its teeth."

Intimidation?

A senior MNS leader confirmed that it was an indirect threat to the Shiv Sena and referred to the fact that in the Assembly polls, MNS won the two seats in Sewri and Mahim, which were considered to be the Shiv Sena's strongholds.

MNS candidate Bala Nandgaonkar defeated sitting MLA Dagdu Dada Sakpal of the Sena at Sewri and Nitin Sardesai beat Aadesh Bandekar at Mahim.

"We have conquered the lion's den (the two constituencies) and counted its teeth (the voters)," said the leader.

Show of strength: The MNS hoarding with derogatory reference to the Shiv Sena.

The banner has been posted by local leaders and Abhishekh Gupta, the Dadar Shakha Pramukh of MNS, who said, "Our message is clear we are celebrating the victory of our candidates."

Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe said, "It's a local issue which the local leader will deal with." Bala Nandgaonkar remained unavailable for comment.

Olive Branch

Four days after the Assembly election results were declared, Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray said that it would be great if all the parties came together on the issue of Marathi manoos.

Since the only other political party with the Marathi manoos plank, is Raj Thackeray's MNS, Uddhav's statement sparked speculation that the Sena may form an alliance with the MNS.