Raj Thackeray bats for Narendra Modi

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, who addressed an election rally at Ghansoli on Friday evening, batted for Narendra Modi as the nation's next Prime Minister. Thackeray, though, steered clear of making any references to Shiv Sena, the main ally of BJP, while there.

"I have seen the development Modi carried out in Gujarat. Our nation has been under Congress rule for last 60 years and still we are struggling on several fronts. Modi, as the chief minister of Gujarat, has brought in changes and led the state on the path of development. Several small countries formed after our nation, too, have made rapid strides as far as development is concerned. This is because of the strong political leadership. Today, India needs a man like Narendra Modi," said Thackeray, while addressing a rally to garner support for his party candidate Abhijit Panse.

The MNS chief also raked up the issue of north Indians and blamed the Congress-NCP led DF-government for this. "The Congress and NCP led DF-government in Maharashtra has been taking Marathi people for granted and is giving undue importance to north Indians settling here. Thane district has maximum number of north Indians. We were earlier slaves of Britishers and now we are slaves of our own people. There is a need to change this and people should vote for a change. Amitabh Bachchan, Lata Mangeshkar, Sachin Tendulkar are icons of nation and not of a particular state, but I will certainly not allow goonda elements coming from Azamgarh to make the state their home," said Thackeray.