Maharashtra Navnirman Sena calls for deferred polls due to floods

While his estranged cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has called for the state assembly elections scheduled to be announced next month to be postponed due to floods across the state, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray rubbished the demand. "This is a horrible catastrophe. How can anyone think about elections in these circumstances?" questioned Uddhav, without naming Raj.

Uddhav, however, refused to comment on the controversy over water resources and medical education minister and senior BJP leader Girish Mahajan posing for a selfie in the midst of rescue operations in flood-affected areas and added that the Shiv Sena was working to provide succour to these people. Uddhav said any politics could be played only after the floodwaters receded and the situation returned to normal.

Raj had called for the state assembly elections to be postponed considering the floods in districts like Sangli and Kolhapur, which have affected and dispossessed lakhs of people. The elections are scheduled to be held in October. Uddhav said they were also working to provide relief to flood-affected areas in the Konkan. The Shiv Sena has dispatched medical and other aid to these affected areas and has also deployed teams of around 100 veterinarians to treat livestock and animals.