Raj Thackeray assures to change face of State if voted to power

Mumbai, Dec 17 (UNI) Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray today said he was making a sincere effort to contribute towards the development of the State and Mumbai and urged the people to trust him.

Speaking at a meeting after inaugurating his party 'Sakha' (office) in the Andheri-Jogeshwari area of North-West Mumbai Mr Thackeray said if he failed he would never come to them to ask for votes.

He said he is not promising miracles to change the face of the city and the State, but is making a sincere attempt to do so.

Criticising the present leadership and administration in the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Mr Thackeray lashed out at the Shiv Sena which has been in power in the Mumbai Civic body for the last 20 yrs.

He said that ''Corporators, who are one among you before winning the elections, drastically change after they are elected and they are the only one who prosper and not the common people.'' He assured the he would be personally involved in the development of the city of Mumbai and Thane if his party was voted to power.

He wanted his party 'Sakhas' to work genuinely for the welfare of the people. ''Our sakha should not be like others which are used only for money dealing,'' Mr Thackeray said without naming his erstwhile part Shiv Sena.

He said there have been a negligence in providing basic eminities to the people of Mumbai and lamented that the present leadership is not at all apologetic about the sorry state of affairs in the metropolis.

Recalling the deluge in Mumbai last year he said ''Shiv Sena chief and his uncle Balasaheb Thackeray had come to stay with him as suburban Mumbai was under water, while the other Thackeray went to stay in a hotel leaving all of you in a lurch.'' Raj said, ''Two days after the deluge Balasaheb asked me to go and see whether the water level has receded or not. When I went to Matoshree (Balasaheb's residence) the security men posted in the bunglow had not eaten for two days. I immediately ordered food and tea for them till the situation had normalised. But the working president did not bother to even enquire about their well-being. If he can't do this to the very men who protect their lives and bunglow what will he do for you,'' Mr Thackeray charged without naming his elder cousin and Shiv Sena working president Uddhav Thackeray.

I have proved it in Nashik where the Shiv Sena had won the Municipal Corporation Election under my supervision.

Appealing the people to translate the huge turnout at his public meeting into votes he said the he had a blue print and road map for development of Mumbai and Maharashtra.

The people wanted change but they were not finding a good alternative. People are fed up with Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena and BJP and if given a chance, MNS was ready to be the viable alternative, he added.

UNI MR MJ RL KP2204