Bal Thackeray's campaigning will strengthen Sena; Uddhav

Mumbai, Dec 25 (UNI) Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray today defended involving party chief Bal Thackeray into active campaigning for the upcoming elections to Brihamumbai Municipal Corporation, saying it would boost the party's prospeccts and strengthen it.

''It is not our desperation that we are bringing in the party chief for campaigning but it will strengthen the party further,'' Mr Uddhav Thackeray said after a meeting of party MPs and other office bearers during the opening of the election ofice at Shiv Sena Bhavan, which was attended by Mr Bal Thackeray.

The Sena Chief, who will turn 80 on January 23, had earlier said that due to health reasons, he would avoid addressing the meetings barring the Dussehra rally.

He said Mr Bal Thackeray will address meetings in Mumbai and Thane. When asked about the rumours that several MPs are deserting the Sena, Mr Uddhav Thackeray rubbished them, saying all the MPs were present at the meeting.

He said that he had advocated for the alliance of ''Shiv Shakti and Bhimshakti'' but it did not materialise.

Criticising the Congress government, which is now saying that all the hutments which had come up after 2000 would not be protected, He asked why this was not implemented for the last three years.

''Development and security are going to be the main issues for the elections, scheduled for Februayry 1,'' he said adding that the talks between Sena-BJP about seat sharing was in the final stages.

When asked why several Sena leaders were deserting the party for his cousin's outfit Maharashtra Navnirman sena' and Congress, Mr Uddhav Thackeray said people were also coming back to the Shiv Sena.

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