Shiv Sena to fight civic polls alone, won’t enter into alliance with BJP

WATCH VIDEO | Shiv Sena Breaks 25-Year Alliance With BJP In Maharashtra, To Go Solo In BMC Elections

Reacting to the development, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said: “Parivartan is inevitable, irrespective of those who join or don’t in our fight for transparency and accountable administration for larger public welfare.” Our mantra is development, we will not compromise on corruption, he added. The decision is only confined to elections across ten municipal corporations and 25 zilla parishads, leaders from both parties said. Sena will continue it alliance with the BJP Centre and state.

“I am ready to go solo, the Shiv Sainiks are ready to go solo. I want strong foot-soldiers with me who have the courage to launch a frontal attack and not back-stab. Once I have taken my decision, I do not want anybody to question it,” Thackeray said while addressing a gathering of party workers in the evening.

Bullock cart racing

Buoyed by the success of the public protests over Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, Thackeray called on Maharashtrians to join hands to bring back bullock cart racing in the state. “Let us come together to bring back bullock cart racing in Maharashtra,” Thackeray said. The issue also resonated in the neighbouring state of Karnataka, with legislators looking to take a cue from Tamil Nadu and bring out an ordinance allowing the smooth conduct of the sport. Earlier this month, Tamil Nadu, succumbing to pressure from pro-Jallikattu protesters, temporarily removed all the legal hurdles to allow the bull-taming sport. However, the week-long protests at Marina beach did not dissipate as the protesters were seeking a permanent solution to the ban on Jallikattu. The demand was to amend the Prevention of Cruelty against Animals by removing bulls from the list of animals prohibited for performance or display.