Shiv Sena wants Uddhav Thackeray as Chief Minister

Aurangabad, Oct 6 (ANI): Shiv Sena senior leader Manohar Joshi has said that he would request party patron Balasaheb Thackeray to declare Uddhav Thackeray as the chief ministerial candidate.

Addressing reporters here on Monday, Joshi said, "Balasaheb Thackeray decides on the chief ministership and we will definitely make a request to him to announce Uddhav Thackeray as chief minister candidate," Joshi said.

Joshi also expressed confidence that the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), a breakaway faction of the Shiv Sena led by Raj Thackeray, will not cause damages to them like they did in the April-May general elections.

"There were candidates of MNS against the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party in the general elections who caused serious loss to us. But as I am visiting places I see that people are regretting and will vote for us," Joshi added.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan refuted charges of calling MNS chief Raj Thackeray as 'monsoon frog'.

"I will not say to an individual but to the whole opposition which is launching attacks on the Congress and the NCP and I do not take it seriously," Chavan said.

The elections will be the first major test for the federal-ruling Congress coalition after a strong victory in the general election in May and how the government responded to challenges including a drought and rising food prices. (ANI)