Bal Thackeray joins chorus for early polls

MUMBAI, May 1: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today urged the Election Commission to hold elections to the Lok Sabha as early as possible,...

MUMBAI, May 1: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today urged the Election Commission to hold elections to the Lok Sabha as early as possible, preferably before July so that a larger section of the electorate will be able to exercise their franchise.

8220;There is absolutely no justification in postponing the polls to September. At least in Maharashtra, due to monsoon, it will be difficult for the voters to exercise their franchise if the elections are held in September,8221; Thackeray told a group of media persons after inaugurating the first one-day convention of Hind Kisan Kamgar Sena.

Thackeray claimed that in view of the changed political situation and also owing to better performance of the alliance government, Shiv Sena as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party would improve their position in the Lok Sabha.

8220;Certainly, we now have an edge over the Congress, which is directly responsible for imposing the mid-term polls. In addition, the collapse of alliance between Congress and Samajwadi Party will also helpus,8221; he remarked. Earlier, addressing party workers, Thackeray reiterated that the alliance government should not take any policy decision before consulting him. 8220;On several occasions, I am not aware of decisions taken by the government and suddenly, he had to face the wrath of the people for ill-advised decisions,8221; Thackeray pointed out.

He came down heavily on BSP leader Mayawati for voting against the trust vote moved by the Vajpayee Government. Referring to Mayawati8217;s remark that 8220;BJP is a saap snake and Congress naagnath cobra8221;, Thackeray said, 8220;If she knew that then why did she provide milk for the cobra8221;.

Thackeray reiterated that at no cost should AICC president Sonia Gandhi, a foreigner, become the prime minister of the country. 8220;Are all persons in India namard impotent, that a foreigner should become our prime minister?8221; he asked and said those who have toiled hard for the cause of the nation were being ignored only to ensure that Sonia Gandhi becomes the PM.

Referring to thecurrent political situation, Thackeray said, since it is unstable, it is imperative that the electorate of the State should help bring back the Sena-BJP alliance to power.

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Even the BJP has favoured early polls, preferably in the last week of June or first week of July, for obvious political reasons. The BJP is of the view that if the elections are held early, it will politically benefit it.

8220;If the elections are held in September or October, the impact of sympathy will be completely demolished,8221; according to a senior BJP leader.