Kadam is Sena's answer to Rane

Ramdas Kadam was elected the new leader of Shiv Sena legislature party in Maharashtra, replacing expelled rebel Narayan Rane.

Kadam, a legislator from Khed in Konkan region to which Rane also belongs, was elected unanimously at a meeting of party MLAs here which was attended by around 50 of 63 party MLAs, party sources said.

• Rane claims support of 42 MLAs

Kadam, a four-time MLA, has been representing the Khed assembly constituency in Ratnagiri district since 1990.

He was re-elected to the lower house in 1995, 1999 and 2004.

He was the minister of state for food and civil supplies from 1996 to 1999 during the Sena-BJP coalition government.

He had also held the portfolio of minister of state for home in 1999.

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