Top sources told The Financial Express that Naik has staked a claim on Thane Parliamentary constituency and has expressed to field candidates of his newly formed Bharat Vikas Party in 13 assembly segments. These constituencies include, Belapur (Navi Mumbai), Rajapur (Sindhudurg district), Ahmednagar, Chalisgaon (Jalgaon), Murbad, Ambernath and Palghar (Thane), Pandharpur (Solapur), Partur (Parbhani), Lanza (Ratnagiri), Karjat Khalapur (Raigad), Dhule and Igatpuri (Nashik).

Naik will soon hold talks with Pawar and state NCP president Chhagan Bhujbal on the formation of an alliance and become a partner of the NCP-led Front comprising Samajwadi Party, Republican Party of India, Janata Dal, Peasants and Workers Party, Communist Party of India, Shetkari Sanghatana and KamgarAghadi.

Analysts said that Naik's alliance with Pawar led front will pose a serious threat particularly in the coastal Thane, Raigad and Ratnagiri districts as well as in tribal infested Dhule and Nandurbar and parts of Solapur. Naik's presence in the NCP-led Front will also help to woo a large number of dissident youth activists from the ruling Sena from various constituencies.

Naik who was sacked from the council of ministers by the then chief minister Manohar Joshi about an year and half ago following a diktat from the Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, has decided to openly challenge the the Sena leadership in the coming elections with a sole objective of ``teaching it a lesson." Naik was shown a marching orders due to his increasing clout in his Belapur constituency and within the party level.

Ironically, both the Sena supremo and Joshi had failed to justify expulsion of Naik who had a clean tenure as the minister for forests and environment. On top of it, the state bureaucracy and various politicalparties had in fact lauded him for his straight forward atttiude and corruption less functioning.

Several feelers were sent for the reconciliation at the level of the Sena supremo and the chief minister Narayan Rane. However, Naik has refused it.It must be mentioned here that Naik's efforts to capture the chief minister's gaddi with the support from at least 25 rebel Sena legislators and backing from the undivided Congress and other opposition parties did not pay off. Naik did not succeed in keeping his flock together as sesning trouble ahead the Sena leadership swung into action and lured the disgruntled elements.

Naik who had elected from the Belapur constituency for the second succesive time in 1995 elections, after dismissal from the ministry has formed a Shivshakti, a social voluntary organisation. Naik has also formed Shivshakti's branches in various parts of Maharahstra. Interestingly, Naik enjoys a tremendous following not only in his community but also in other castes and communities across thestate.