145;We146;ll emerge like Phoenix146;

Standing on the terrace of the three-storey building, Raj Thackeray calmly reiterates his uncle8217;s Dussehra declaration 8212; that the ...

Standing on the terrace of the three-storey building, Raj Thackeray calmly reiterates his uncle8217;s Dussehra declaration 8212; that the Sena will strike back. He gazes out over Shivaji Park, the home ground of the Sena, where he made his first public speech. The trim 36-yr-old 8212; he loves his 90-minute workout 8212; says he8217;s unruffled by the speculation on the Sena8217;s succession intrigues.

A Commercial Arts graduate from JJ School of Arts, Thackeray dreamt of going abroad to study animation graphics a decade ago. But his first interview after the polls is no elaborate storyboard. He reveals only what he thinks you need to know. No frills:

On post-poll Sena morale

Defeat has never discouraged us. In fact, we have emerged like a Phoenix from the ashes. From one member in the Assembly, we have moved to 150. We have given two Cabinet ministers, a chief minister, a LS Speaker. A Sainik does not fear defeat. He always emerges stronger. Only those who are in power fear losing it. We have been in the Opposition more often than we have been in power.

On Mumbai

This is the commercial capital of India. But what has the basic tax-payer 8212; whether he is a Parsi, Jain, Marwari, Maharashtrian, Muslim, Gujarati or Punjabi 8212; got in return? No good roads, no open spaces, traffic problems. Then outsiders come and take up whatever is left of footpaths and railway stations. The first thing you see when you are landing at the airport is a slum. Forget all this talk about making this city a Shanghai or Singapore. First make it Mumbai.

On slums

The Congress8217; promise of extending the deadline for slums from 1995 to 2000 was purely to attract slum votes. Why are they not working towards taking the slum-dweller out of his shanty into a decent house? These entities are expanding horizontally. Build them vertically. Put the space thus created to better use. Soon development will be a citizen8217;s core concern.

On 8216;outsiders8217;

We are not against anybody 8212; neither Muslims nor North Indians. When we built flyovers and the Mumbai-Pune expressway, we did not say: 8216;8216;Only for the use of a Marathi manus8217;8217;. Our states were divided on the basis of language. But today, people are coming into Maharashtra saying: 8216;8216;What is ours is ours but what is yours is also now ours8217;8217;. Why should we put up with this?

On future CM8217;s priorities

Whoever the CM is has to focus on development and let go of money and caste politics. The Muslims have supported the Congress but what has the party done for the education of Muslim youth? Get good roads, water for farmers, drinking water, electricity. It is a shame that after 50 years, elections are still fought on promises of bijli, sadak, paani. There is a drought of good political thinking in Maharashtra. Once that ends, the state will never face another drought.

On his future plan

Story continues below this ad

Whatever they are, you will see them unfold in 5-10 years.