Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said the attack had hurt Maharashtra’s reputation and promised tough action against the perpetrators. Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil of the NCP too promised stern action even if those behind the attack had “high connections”.

State NCP chief Arun Gujarathi said his party had nothing to do with what had happened and urged action “as per the law of the land”.

But political sources said that Shiv Sangram, floated about a decade ago, enjoys strong support from orthodox Marathas in the state, mainly from the NCP of Sharad Pawar which is a partner in the state’s coalition government. Though the organisation is not formally connected to the NCP, Methe was nominated by the party to the state legislative council in 1996 and he was an MLC until 2006.

Shiv Sangram, they said, was covertly promoted by Marathas in the NCP to counter the influence of Chhagan Bhujbal’s Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad (MPSP). Bhujbal, a former Shiv Sena leader, joined the Congress in 1992 and has since been with Pawar. He is now the state PWD minister.

Attacks on media in Maharashtra

2004

• Nikhil Wagle, owner and editor of Mahanagar, was attacked by Shiv Sena activists for making “derogatory” remarks about party leaders.

• Sajid Rashid, editor of Hamara Mahanagar, was stabbed in the back twice, after an alleged hate campaign against him.

2006

• Zee TV studio in Mumbai ransacked by Shiv Sena workers over a satirical skit about the Thackerays.

... contd.