SURAT: Shiv Sena’s city unit president Arun Kalal, who was conspicuous by his absence during the hectic political activity when the rebels led by Eknath Shinde camped in Surat, surfaced on Monday and cited health issues for going incommunicado.
“I was under treatment for a couple of surgeries. I had some major health issues for which surgeries were long pending. Hence, I was hospitalized for the past few days,” Kalal told TOI.
Sources in the political circles claimed that attempts were made by Shiv Sena leadership in Mumbai and local leaders of other political parties to contact Kalal but he was unreachable since June 21. Some political groups were ready to help Shiv Sena in staging a protest against the rebel MLAs camping at a luxury hotel in the city.
“We had tried to reach Kalal but he was not reachable. We tried to contact his other family members but they too were out of reach,” said a Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader.
Ultimately, Shiv Sena had to contact their former party workers, who had recently joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to help MLA Nitin Deshmukh, who wanted to return to Mumbai.
Though he could not help his party during the crisis Kalal claimed that he is loyal to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. “I have been working with Shiv Sena for the past 30 years and have organised a huge event in the city in the honour of Uddhavji. I will never go against the party,” said Kalal. Not only Kalal, the entire city unit of Shiv Sena was missing from the scene during the movement of rebel leaders.
