The Shiv Sena has appointed Neelam Gorhe as its spokesperson here. She is the first woman to hold the post in the party.
Ms. Gorhe said she was proud to be the party's spokesperson in a city that has had a tradition of women's liberation. “I am an heir to a glorious history led by women. I will aim to take it forward,” she told reporters here on Saturday.
“The party leadership has been totally impartial. I have risen to this post without having any political family backing,” she said. The party agenda of issue-based politics would continue. Hindutva, Marathi, farmers' issues and environmental concerns were important for the party. “Even with Special Economic Zones, we are opposed to development. Our prime concern is that the farmers should be happy.”
The Shiv Sena would also tackle the issue of rampant corruption. “With those in power pocketing money in the IPL and Commonweath Games, the common man is lost? Even our players like Rangraj Pillay are playing without funds, living in stark economic conditions,” she said.
Transport was another important issue for the Sena. “The questions on Pune metro rail should be tackled. Otherwise, the Opposition will only make financial gain out of the delays caused in protest, as it happened with the Bandra Worli sea-link in Mumbai.”
She said Aditya Thackarey would be active in the party working here. Appealing to the youth to be active in politics she said that a ‘Shiv Sena community' was formed on Orkut and it had 14,000 members.
