BMC polls: Raj Thackeray hits the road, tells his men to back party

An election win can only be achieved with firm support from party activists.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday reaffirmed this fact on Sunday by travelling through the city to meet his party members.

Accompanied by wife Sharmila and a cut-out of the MNS poll symbol, the railway engine, Raj set off in the morning from Dahisar for his first road show and reached Bandra in the evening. Throughout his journey he had only one message for his men: Forget the past and work for the party candidate.

Raj met candidates from each ward, inaugurated the party’s election offices and even addressed activists at a few places.

He chose not to comment on rebels, but taunted the friendship of the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). “The two best friends (Sena chief Bal Thackeray and NCP president Sharad Pawar) are fighting the polls against me. Let the right time come, and I will say what I have to about this.”

Commenting on his cousin carrying out rallies on the streets, Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray said in his first election speech: “I was wondering whether the rally is on the road or on a ground. For the Sena, it does not matter, because where ever we stand the crowd rallies for us. We do not care whether we get a ground or not.”

Targeting the Congress and NCP, Uddhav said: “The same parties are attacking each other in their campaigns for the zilla parishads. They have stooped to such low levels. The only reason they are coming together for the BMC polls is money, but I am sure Mumbai will not let this happen.”