CM Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray may have threatened rebels in the Assembly poll fray with dire consequences, but the Sena itself has officially endorsed a candidate against BJP's Kankavali nominee Nitesh Rane.

Sena's mouthpiece Saamna said Saturday that Satish Sawant would be the party's candidate against Rane. "Kankavalit ghumshan suru jhale aahe (the tussle has started in Kankavali)," the paper said, adding that the Sena was opposed to Nitesh's nomination from the very beginning. "Despite our opposition, the BJP cleared Nitesh (candidature) at the eleventh hour. We have intensified our stand against the Ranes. It will be Sena against Narayan Rane," the paper said.