Raj softens stand on Shiv Sena-BJP

Nashik, June 9 (UNI) Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray today softened his stand on the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance, describing it as a ''brick''.

He made this remark at a question and answer session organised as a part of two-day district-level journalist training camp, which commenced at Saptashringi Gad in North Maharashtra. The camp has been organised by the Nashik District Marathi Patrakar Sangh and Kalwan Taluka Patrakar Sangh.

When Raj was asked of the Congress-NCP combine and Sena-BJP alliance whom he would call a brick or stone, he replied ''I call Sena-BJP as a brick.'' This statement by MNS president may hint to his future strategies.

He said the Sena-BJP alliance should be given due credit for some good things that it had done during its rule. The Mumbai-Pune expressway was one among them, he added.

To a question on his party's performance in the recently concluded civic polls, the young leader said the elections gave him the idea how much votes his party can garner in the future.

''I contested these elections with the 2009 Legislative Assembly elections in mind. The party ranked third in total votes percentage in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls,'' he said.

Speaking about his party's performance in Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC), he said in the first attempt itself, his party won 12 seats in NMC, while Shiv Sena had won nine seats.

''I am ready to work hard and wait till this turns into votes,'' he said.

About Shiv Sena's success in the BMC elections, Raj said the whole credit goes to the party supremo Bal Thackeray as people still love him. This success was the result of Thackery Senior's appeal to people.

To a question, he said development of Maharashtra will be his party's agenda.

The camp was inaugurated by senior journalist Madhukar Bhave, while Divisional Revenue Commissioner Sanjay Chanhande presided over the programme.

UNI