Mumbai: 

The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Thursday said many Nationalist Congress Party leaders, who were weeping after Sharad Pawar's decision to step down as their party chief, have one foot in the Bharatiya Janata Party and another in NCP. The party's mouthpiece 'Saamana' said in an editorial that there are many in NCP who are sitting on the fence and by announcing his decision to step down, Mr Pawar has exposed everyone.

Saamana said if the thought of quitting with dignity rather than seeing his party split must have come to Sharad Pawar's mind, then there is nothing wrong with it.

"When Pawar announced his decision to step down, many wept. But many of them (who wept) have one foot in the BJP and another in the party (NCP)," the editorial said. It also asked whether the unease in the party over central agencies' action against some leaders and their apparent leaning towards the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) could have led to Mr Pawar announcing his decision to quit.