Hitting out at his detractors, Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said his party had proved everybody wrong and emerged victorious in the civic polls and credited victory to party supremo Bal Thackeray and the voters of the state.
"Everybody thought we were finished but we have finished them. This victory was needed and I am grateful to the voters for giving it to us," Uddhav said at a crowded press conference at Bal Thackeray's residence Matoshree in suburban Bandra in Central Mumbai.
"This was an election fought for the very existence of Mumbai and voters have shown that they still want Mumbai to be part of Maharashtra," he said.
When asked about Raj Thackeray and Narayan Rane, Uddhav said, "I do not want to talk about Raj. He would do better to think only about himself. It has been proved that people still have confidence in Bal Thackeray."
When asked about the reasons behind Shiv Sena's victory, he said, "It is because of Bal Thackeray's blessings and the hard work of the party. It is obvious that Shiv Sena's votes cannot be broken because they are linked to Balasaheb and their loyalty to him."
When asked about the party's performance in the remaining municipal polls across the state, he said, "We have done well in Mumbai, Thane and Ulhasnagar. It is only in Nashik that we have faltered. In Pune, we have maintained the same position. We will now focus on a bigger dream."
Uddhav, when asked whether he would require the help of any other party candidates, said, "I do not think so. We will manage on our own. We have already got the required number and there are few independent candidates who are ready to come with us."
Reacting to comments that the poll was an acid test for his leadership, he said, "Every election is shown as an acid test for my leadership, but that does not affect me. We will fulfill all promises that we have given to the people and will do everything to ensure development as well as security of the common man."
Hundreds of Sena workers thronged Thackeray's residence to get a glimpse of Bal Thackeray and to congratulate Uddhav. Uddhav's wife Rashmi was seen distributing sweets to party workers and accepting greetings.
Earlier, party spokesperson Neelam Gorhe said the victory of Shiv Sena in the civic polls was a seal of approval of Uddhav's leadership.
Talking about Narayan Rane's (who left the party last year) failure, Gorhe said in areas like Tilak Nagar and Chembur in Central Mumbai, which were said to be Rane's stronghold, the Sena had emerged victorious.
She attributed the success to Maharashtrian voters and added that Bal Thackeray's public rallies were instrumental in mobilising the otherwise lethargic voters. Talking about those who have defected from the party (Raj Thackeray and Rane), Gore said voters had showed them their place.
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