Sarvankar sees ‘design’ in attack on Joshi’s house

Sarvankar,who has been a corporator,standing committee chief and vibhag pramukh,had alleged earlier also that Uddhav had incited him to attack Joshi’s house. Joshi was pitching for his aide and former mayor Milind Vaidya from the constituency. After the Sena nominated Bandekar,Sarvankar joined hands with industries minister Narayan Rane to secure the nomination from the Congress.

“The way in which I was denied (the nomination) was insulting. Conspiracies were hatched to deny me the nomination. I took the decision (to join the Congress) as I had no option,” said Sarvankar,adding that he would have relented if the leadership had explained the reasons for the same.

Sarvankar,however,said he would gradually reveal all details of the “conspiracy” hatched against him. On questions about the discontent in the Congress over his nomination,Sarvankar said such infighting was prevalent in all political parties,with a section of the Sena also being sore at Bandekar’s nomination.

When asked whether he would espouse the cause of the Maharashtrians even after leaving the Sena and joining the Congress,Sarvankar said he would implement the policies of the party as an activist with the poor and deprived as the central focus. “Time will decide,” said Sarvankar,on questions whether he would find it easy to assimilate into the Congress,something which the Congress leaders say has not come easily to his mentor Narayan Rane.

When contacted,Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said,“on whose orders did Sada Sarvankar come to Matoshri to create a ruckus?” He said Rane was standing next to him when Sarvankar first made the allegations. “And hence,the people know who was pulling the strings.”