NCP, Shiv Sena address public meets for Thane bypoll

Thane, May 20 (UNI) Canvassing for the Thane bypoll reached fever pitch yesterday as the candidates of Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) addressed public meetings with full gusto on the last day of the campaigning.

Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray addressed the public on the roadside near Thane Municipal Corporation, while Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil of the NCP went around in Mira-Bhayander and Kalwa along with the party chief Arun Gujarathi to address the public meetings.

In his speech at Kalwa, Mr Patil dug out Shiv Sena's activities and BJP for the rampant corruption. He alleged that Sena always uses Marathi plank to achieve its goal, due to which Marathi 'Manoos' suffers the most.

He called upon the masses and said, ''Its the high time, we have to stop the people who hammer unity on the basis of religion or any such criteria.'' Mr Patil said, ''All those who were trapped in corruption were BJP leader, are you willing to vote for the candidate supported by those culprits?'' He suggested, ''If you want to be in the main stream of progress then choose the right person who would fight for you and represent you and that is Sanjiv Naik of NCP-Congress. Sena should be taught a lesson for ruining the state.'' Through the elections, people in Thane have got a golden opportunity to decide the future of the state and nation, he said.

''I am confident that NCP will win with the margin of over a lakh votes,'' he concluded.

Mr Uddhav, in his meeting, simply hampered upon NCP and said neither the state nor the country was safe in Congress and NCP rule.

He pointed out, ''All problems such as power shortage, law and order issues, price rise and many others have become never ending, hence you should decide whom do you want to select as your representative to erradicate all the problems.'' Mr Uddhav defended his party and said, ''NCP leaders need not teach us lessons, they should mind their own business, instead.'' While talking to media after the meeting, Congress leader and General Secretary Kripashankar Singh said the large chunk north Indian's votes will be the deciding factor in May 22 polls in Thane.

In the delimited Assembly segments which will be 15 at least four seats should be given to north Indians he said and assured that he would strive for the same.

''Sena will have to pay for the harrassment that north Indians had to bear,'' Mr Singh said.

UNI XR GR SM KK BD1335