)
Gloating over its by-poll victory against Narayan Rane, Shiv Sena today said those who dare to come into the backyard of Thackerays' Matoshree "will be buried and won't be forgiven."
The 63-year-old Congress heavyweight Rane yesterday lost to ruling Shiv Sena's Trupti Sawant in Bandra (East), home turf of party founder Bal Thackeray, his second consecutive defeat in six months. Sena said Rane will lose by even greater margin if he contests the elections for the third time.
"This election teaches that those who try and come into Matoshree's (Thackeray family residence) backyard will get buried and won't be forgiven. Let us see who can beat us," an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.
"This seat had fallen vacant following the demise of (Sena leader) Bala Sawant. The by-poll should have been held uncontested. But, by fielding an egoistic man against us, the Congress has bared itself in front of the people," it said.
In the by-election, Trupti Sawant secured 52,711 votes while Rane garnered only 33,703 votes, losing by a margin of 19,008 votes. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) candidate Rehbar Khan was a distant third with 15,050 votes.
"In the 2014 state Assembly election, Narayan Rane had lost to us by 10,000 votes. This time his defeat margin got doubled. We do not have any doubt in our mind that he will lose by thrice the margin the next time he chooses to contest polls," it further said.
Taking a dig at NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who had actively campaigned for Rane, the editorial said there was no need for him to come out and campaign against the Sena in the latter's backyard. The echo of Rane's defeat must have reached the veteran politician's ears by now, it said.
The ruling alliance partner in the BJP-led Maharashtra government also hit out at Asaduddin Owaisi, saying that the Muslims in the constituency have buried the AIMIM and ensured that its candidate's deposit got forfeited.
"Muslims did not back Owaisi's poisonous politics. Both the brothers (Asaduddin and Akbaruddin) tried hard to spew venom and poison people's minds. But, it ended up in their candidate's deposit getting forfeited," it said.
