M'shtra: After civic polls, Sena eyes the State

Pune, May 9: The Shiv Sena is all set to take their success in the recently - concluded civic polls, a step further, by regaining power in the State Assembly polls, scheduled two years hence according to party executive president Uddhav Thackeray.

Addressing party workers and sainiks after inaugurating the 'Sena Bhavan' in the busy Deccan Gymkhana area, Mr Thackeray said the Sena was not satisfied by getting the posts of Mayor or Deputy Mayor in the civic bodies, but would like to regain power in the ensuing Assembly elections. ''This would be a perfect gift for party supremo Balasaheb Thackeray,'' he said.

He told party workers to shed their differences, if there were any, and work unitedly for the goal of regaining power in the next Assembly polls.

Recalling the tie up with the NCP in the Pune Mayoral election, Uddhav said since Pune was the birth place of his father, he had extended co-operation and support, mainly for the development of the historic city.

He not only lashed out at the UPA-led Congress government for turning a blind eye to the happenings in Nandigram in West Bengal where innocent people were killed fighting to save their lands, but also blamed them for farmers' suicides.

He justified the Narendara Modi-led government in Gujarat by saying that Modi took immediate steps to suspend three police officials for the fake encounter of an alleged criminal Sohrabuddin Sheikh.

UNI