Shiv Sena sounds BMC poll bugle from Mumbai's Girgaon, attacks Fadnavis and Centre

Shiv Sena on Saturday chose to start its campaign for BMC polls from southern Mumbai's Girgaon, an area which the party lost to the BJP in the last assembly election.

The locality is believed to be a stronghold of the Shiv Sena.

"Whenever we have started our campaign from Girgaon, we have always won that election. Thus, this time we are blowing the bugle of our BMC elections from here", said Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut.

People in large numbers turned up for Sena's Girgaon rally.

Addressing his first rally, party chief Uddhav Thackeray appealed to the people of Girgaon to vote for the Shiv Sena. Uddhav directly attacked not just Chief Minister Fadnavis, but also the central leadership of the BJP in his speech.

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"They (BJP) must have forgotten that it was due to the Shiv Sena's coming to his rescue that Modi managed to continue as chief minister in the aftermath of the Godhra riots. Let me tell you Mr. Fadnavis, whoever has attacked the Sena has vanished from politics", Uddhav threatened.

Uddhav Thackeray not only touched upon local issues, but also commented on national concerns in his Girgaon rally. Criticising the BJP for Goa election, Thackeray said, "BJP doesn't even have a chief ministerial candidate there. On banners, only Parrikar and Modi's photos are there." He also slammed the BJP for not including loan waiver for UP farmers in its manifesto.

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"Are there no farmers in Maharashtra? When you have a government here in the state, why can't the same loan waiver be given to the farmers of Maharashtra?" Uddhav asked.

Thackeray reiterated the fact that the Shiv Sena was not going to forge an alliance with anyone and his party was not contesting to play a 'friendly match'.

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