But only hours before Thackeray's threat, BJP Mumbai unit chief Kirit Somaiyya continued his pow-vow with Housing Minister Sureshdada Jain (Shiv Sena) by dashing off an angry letter to Chief Minister Manohar Joshi insisting that Jain apologise for calling him ``foolish'' in public. (The controversy started with Somaiyya telling reporters that the government's latest housing scheme for slumdwellers -- the Shivshahi Punarvasan Prakalp -- would only help builders and Jain responded bycalling Somaiyya names.)In the letter, Somaiyya, came down heavily on Jain saying because of the latter's adamant attitude, the BJP would under no circumstances support the Rs 10,000 crore project because it was economically unviable. Somaiyya has sought an explanation from the Chief Minister on the allegations made by the Housing Minister against him. ``As captain of the Sena-BJP government, do you endorse the views expressed by Jain against me and state BJP president Suryabhan Wahadane? Why you are maintaining a discreet silence on the uncalled for remarks of Jain SPPC's fate hangs in balance

The fate of the Rs 10,000-crore Shivshahi Punarvasan Prakalp Corporation (SPPC) set up for providing two lakh low-cost houses, hangs in balance as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) have refused to contribute their share for the proposed corporation.

Despite strong opposition from top bureaucrats on the ground thatthe project will be unviable, the Cabinet decided to set up the corporation with contribution of Rs 300 crore each from the MMRDA and the MHADA.

According to a senior official, while the MMRDA refused to contribute its share, the MHADA has stated that it will release Rs 300 crore to the State Government and not to the corporation directly. ``Certainly, the State Government can intervene and ask MMRDA and MHADA to implement the Cabinet decision. But till that time, it will be difficult to set up the corporation,'' the official said.