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ELECTIONS '96

Non-BJP govt will lead to chaos, warns Thackeray

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today said that attempts by the Congress to form an alliance government at the Centre in a bid to keep the Bharatiya Janata Party out of power, will lead to utter chaos in the country.

Thackeray said such a coalition would not survive as would not be based on an ideology but would be created with the singular aim of keeping the BJP out of power.

Reacting to the outcome of the Lok Sabha election in Maharashtra, he said it was not shocking but unexpected. He claimed that it was caused mostly by the lethargic attitude of Sena activists.

He insisted that the BJP-Shiv Sena government's performance in the state was not responsible for the unexpected debacle of their candidates in the election.

The alliance government is all set to complete three years in power and a review of its performance, he said, will be made only after completion of the three-year mark.

Reacting to senior Congress leader Sharad Pawar's statement that the BJP-Sena alliance government will be toppled if the Congress comes to power at the Centre, Thackeray said that he did not fear the state government being toppled.

The Shiv Sena chief said the Congress victory in the state was mainly due to the concordance among the Muslims and neo-Buddhists which prevented the division of votes. He attributed the Congress success to its alliance with the RPI and the Samajwadi Party and said the Congress alone cannot be credited for its success.

However, refusing to accept the Sena's dismal performance, he stated that his party had secured 25.32 per cent votes in the state, which is eight per cent more than the 1996 election.

Thackeray declared that the state cabinet would be reshuffled soon after the formation of the government at the Centre. The reshuffle had been delayed earlier due to elections as it led to the violation of model code of conduct.

He said that a meeting to study the performance of the alliance government will be held later today in Bombay. He stated that guardian ministers of districts found neglecting their duties would be dealt with effectively.

Thackeray blamed a section of the media for misrepresenting his statements on Sonia.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi echoed his party chief and said that there would be a cabinet reshuffle shortly.

Joshi said the party's debacle would be studied and the representatives would be asked to go back to their respective constituencies to take remedial steps. He also added that at a few places, the party had performed better and there was need to reflect on that as well.

Elections '98

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