Sena plans Thackeray-Modi joint rally for BMC polls

Mumbai, Jan 1 (UNI) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address a joint election rally with Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray to elicit support for the saffron alliance in the February one Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

The date and venue for the joint rally is yet to be decided, former Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi, who has been newly appointed as one of the four Shiv Sena spokespersons, told reporters here today. The other three newly-appointed Sena spokespersons -- Mr Subhash Desai, Mr Sanjay Raut and Dr Neelam Gorhe were also present at the press conference.

Mr Joshi informed that discussions between the Shiv Sena and the BJP were underway regarding the sharing of seats for the BMC elections. The prestigious Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, incidentally, has an annual budget of around Rs 9000 crore, which is higher than the budget of some smaller states.

Meanwhile, Mr Joshi informed that henceforth, the Shiv Sena will hold regular press briefings, to be held every Monday, at the Sena Bhavan here.

UNI