India, Jan. 26 -- Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut stepped into the role of a trouble-shooter last week when it seemed like the newly formed alliance of the Thackeray brothers was in trouble following the Kalyan episode. According to Shiv Sena (UBT) insiders, party chief Uddhav Thackeray was angry after the MNS supported the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena to secure a majority in the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), following which Raut gave a strong reaction to the media saying those supporting traitors (as they call the Shinde faction) would also be known as traitors.

Later, he visited Raj's Shivaji Park residence and conveyed Uddhav's anguish over the KDMC issue. He was told by the MNS leadership that the local leaders said all...