Uddhav thanks known, unknown sources for Ramtek victory

Mumbai, Apr 13 (UNI) Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray today described the victory in Ramtek Lok Sabha by-polls, as the new beginning for the party, which suffered seven defeats in by-elections and thanked ''known and unknown friends'' for helping it.

Mr Thackeray told reporters that while Sena has increased its vote-share in all the elections, Congress' vote share was gradually decreasing.

Shiv Sena candidate Prakash Jadhav won the Ramtek by-election yesterday by a margin of 32,000 votes.

''The Sena-BJP alliance was getting increased support of unknown supporters,'' Mr Thackeray claimed.

Rebel Congress candidate Ranjit Deshmukh polled 80,000 votes in Ramtek, which ensured victory for Sena candidate.

When asked what would be the stand of four Rane supporter MLAs who are still in Sena, Mr Thackeray said they might have changed their mind after yesterday's defeat.

''Raj or Rane were never issues for me and Congress should take a lesson from Ramtek and instead of imposing elections on the people they should work for them,'' he said.

''This victory has increased my power,'' said Mr Thackeray, who was under scathing attack for the past two years after Narayan Rane and Raj Thackeray left Shiv Sena.

He denied that his party did not help the BJP candidate in Erandol constituency, where the BJP lost.

When asked about proximity with NCP, he said Sena offered them a hand at the time of election of Rahul Bajaj and Supriya Pawar-Sule to the Rajya Sabha and again in the Pune civic polls. ''This does not mean the proximity will be forever,'' he noted.

UNI