Thackeray lures farmers with power before polls

Taking a leaf out of the book of Congress (I) Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Rajashekhar Reddy, Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray yesterday announced waiving of loans and free electricity for the farmers of Maharashtra if the saffron alliance came to power in the state after the forthcoming assembly polls.

When reporters asked how the state, which was already facing bankruptcy, could afford to make such an announcement and hope to fulfill it, Thackeray said an announcement would be made only after it has been discussed.

He was here to attend the two-day conclave of the Sena to chalk out the party's strategy for the polls and claimed the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance would form the next government in the state.

He said that the Sena's slogan for the election would be "jai jawan, jai kisan, jai kamgar" and added that since the number of workers have increased substantially, their welfare also needed to be taken care of.

"Along with the care of the family of the soldier (jawan), farmers and the problems of the labourers should also be addressed, as they form a large portion of the country's population," he said.

To a query if any member of the Thackeray family could become the chief minister if the party comes to power, the Sena supremo just said, "it is a secret".

To a query about how the party will raise the Hindutva card during assembly elections, he said, "I can speak on Hindutva now, but not during election time due to the code of conduct set up by the Election Commission."

Justifying the party's opposition to the UPA government's plan of reservation of jobs for the minorities, Thackeray said, "providing reservation to Muslims in jobs will be isolating them, which was unnecessary".