Barbate joins Sena in Uddhav’s presence

NAGPUR: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray was on a flying visit to the city on Wednesday.
Party leaders said it was customary visit to meet the ministers and MLAs of the party attending the winter session of the legislature. He landed here in the afternoon and left in the evening, but there was huge build-up for the short visit with massive hoardings coming up in the barely kilometre long stretch between the airport and nearest hotel where he put up.The street was turned saffron with party flags fluttering from every available space to welcome the party chief.
Besides the closed door meeting with party leaders, the highlight of the visit was city entrepreneur and youth leader Vishal Barbate’s entry into the Shiv Sena in Uddhav Thackeray’s presence. Barbate had last month resigned from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. Welcoming him, Uddhav said Barbate’s joining the party indicated the growing acceptance of Sena in this region.
Arya Youth Foundation run by Barbate has a 1000-strong dedicated youth as members who undertake social campaigns and employment generation activity. Arya Charitable Trust he heads provides free prenatal test for five major illnesses to the poor and needy at NMC hospitals. Barbate said under Udhhav’s leadership the party will be able to take up problems of east Vidarbha. Health minister Deepak Sawant, who is party in-charge of east Vidarbha, was present.