Raj Thackeray appeals to people to vote his party to power

Pimpri, Maharashtra, Dec 21 (UNI) Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray today appealed to the people to vote his party to power in the upcoming elections to local bodies for accelerating the pace of development in the state.

Addressing a huge rally in Pimpri-Chinchwad belt ahead of February elections, Raj criticised the Pune District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar, nephew of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, for channelising all his energy in the development of Baramati and neglecting other parts of the state, while aspiring to be the next chief minister.

''I am indeed pained when I visit other states like Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Punjab where the pace of development is rapid unlike in Maharashtra,'' he said.

He appealed to the people to give his party a mandate to make a difference. ''I am not a psuedo politician but would like to serve the people of Maharashtra and if I fail I will not come back before you,'' Mr Raj thundered.

Choosing to ignore Shiv Sena chief's Bal Thackeray's comments about himself, the young leader said he quit Shiv Sena as the party had lost its appeal and was indulging in false propaganda.

He alleged that the Sena leaders had become ''money-minded and were deceitful.'' UNI SP/DWN SSS/OBB YA KP2308