Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday slammed Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan for his remarks that the Sena would lose relevance after the February 16 Mumbai civic polls.
“I pity his intelligence. Let him tell what he has done in one year. We have done lot of things in five years. The Shiv Sena's importance will not decline after February 16,” Mr. Thackeray said announcing the election manifesto of the Sena, Bharatiya Janata Party, Republican Party of India and Dalit Panther alliance.
“This CM talks a lot, but does nothing,” he said, pointing to the pending issues of mill workers' houses and allotment of the Indu Mill land for the construction of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar memorial.
The manifesto promises to construct the memorial if the State and the Central governments hand over the responsibility to the civic body.
It promises to create huge tourist attractions like snow parks, marine aquarium and jungle gym. In a bid to woo the Marathi voters, the manifesto states that the alliance will build a ‘Maharashtra Bhavan' and ‘Marathi Sahitya Bhavan' to preserve the literature, folk life, art and culinary tradition of the State.
Among other things, the alliance promises a new scheme for the fast issuance of Occupancy Certificate for buildings constructed before 2001; regular quality audits to review the construction of houses and roads; beautification of river banks and appointment of observers for overseeing the road construction quality.
“The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party have always meted out injustice to Mumbai. They have never loved the city. We will deliver what we have promised in the manifesto. It is not a mere formality. We will form a committee which will hold monthly meetings to review the progress on the promises made in the manifesto,” State BJP president Sudhir Mungantiwar said at the press conference.
“Mumbaikars have shown their trust on our alliance for the past 15 years and I am sure they will vote for us even this year. We have delivered what we had promised,” Mr. Thackeray said.
RPI leader Ramdas Athawale and Dalit Panther leader Namdeo Dhasal supported the manifesto. “It addresses the current issues troubling the people today,” Mr. Dhasal said.
