India, Feb. 25 -- Despite opposition from the Shiv Sena, forest minister Ganesh Naik of the BJP on Monday held a janata darbar or people's court in Thane, the home turf of Shiv Sena chief and deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. Naik's durbar is being viewed in political circles as the BJP's plan to expand in Thane, a city where the Shiv Sena has a considerable presence.

Senior government officers stayed away from Naik's meeting apparently to avoid antagonising Shinde, who is Thane's guardian minister. The city's police commissioner, the collector of the Thane municipal corporation, the CEO of the district council, the Thane superintendent of police, the regional transport officer and the chief conservator of forests all did not turn up ...