Raj Thackeray extends support to BJP leader Gopinath Munde in Beed
Beed, Munde's stronghold in the Marathwada region, which is facing a witnessing a tough battle between the BJP and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) goes to polls on April 17.
A day before Maharashtra votes in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief president Raj Thackeray announced his party's support to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gopinath Munde, saying all MNS workers should work actively to ensure that the sitting Beed is re-elected. Thackeray has earlier gone on record to say he likes BJP prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi. But he has ruled out possibility of alliance with Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Beed, Munde's stronghold in the Marathwada region, which is witnessing a tough battle between the BJP and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), goes to polls on April 17.
"I am declaring public support of the MNS to Munde in Beed constituency," Raj was quoted as saying even as the campaigning for 19 Lok Sabha seats in the second phase was ending in Maharashtra.
According to reports, Thackeray told a rally in Jogeshwari on April 16 that Munde had sought his support, wondering about the turn of events as Munde had said earlier he did not need MNS support In Beed.
This comes weeks after Munde's reported meeting with Raj Thackeray to persuade the MNS against contesting Lok Sabha polls. Thackeray, however, went ahead and announced to contest on ten of the 48 seats in the state.