Those joining NCP are entering a sinking ship, warns Uddhav Thackeray

Thane, Feb 24: Describing the NCP as the "party of betrayers", Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has warned "greedy" Sainiks against crossing over to the Sharad-Pawar-led outfit, saying they are boarding a "sinking ship".

Uddhav came down heavily on the failures of the NCP and Congress at the mega rally of the SS-BJP-RPI-SWP in Dombivili, and appealed to the citizens to choose a 'credible' combine.

"Sena patriarch Balasaheb had handpicked performing and deserving sainiks and given them plum posts. But due to greed, they betrayed the party, its leadership and deserted it, walking over to other parties. Anand Paranjpe is one them, teach him a befitting lesson," Uddhav said addressing the rally late last night.

"NCP poaching on Sena leaders will not weaken our party. Our asset is our mass-base who will prove their strength in the coming elections. Those joining the NCP are not aware that they are entering a sinking ship," he said.

The Sena suffered a blow few days ago when its sitting MP Bhausaheb Wakchaure, who represents Shirdi Lok Sabha seat, deciding to join the Congress. Also, speculation is rife that another Sena MP from Parbhani, Ganesh Dudhgaonkar, is all set to join the NCP following his meeting with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Saturday.

Uddhav: NCP poaching on Sena leaders will not weaken our party

Thackeray also said, "Henceforth there will be no democracy in the Shiv Sena. Whatever I decide will be the final word". He also criticised the extended parole granted to Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt and said the same benefits should be made available to others like Colonel Srikant Purohit, Sadhvi Pragya Singh and Aseemanand.

Senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde, in his address, said, "The NCP should not underestimate us. It will be tooth for a tooth, and an eye for an eye". "Very soon, we would also bring two senior NCP leaders in the SS-BJP fold," Munde said, without taking any names.

Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council, Vinod Tawde also made Paranjpe his target, and said, "We gave our blood to get him elected at the LS and this is what he gave us in return. A simple sainik can trounce him."

Paranjpe had announced his affiliation with the NCP in 2012 after quitting from the Sena alleging that party workers feel 'suffocated' under the leadership of Uddhav. He is set to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Kalyan seat on the NCP ticket.

PTI