Sena Not ‘Vanquished’, Says Uddhav in First Post-poll Media Appearance

In his first appearance to media following assembly polls, Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray has, on his party’s drubbing, said that the results do not mean that the Sena has been ‘vanquished’.

“This is not the defeat of Shiv Sena. I don’t think we failed because our battle was not for individual gains but for larger public interest,” Uddhav told reporters at Sena Bhawan in central Mumbai.

Uddhav congratulated chief minister Ashok Chavan for triumph of his alliance in the state and assured his support for all pro-people decisions of the new government while clearly stating that his party will oppose any decision which goes against the interest of the people.

In response to a query whether his charisma failed to work in the elections, he said, “we won’t go into the issue of Karisma or Kareena.”

“The Sena’s struggle against injustice will continue,” he said.

Uddhav also announced senior Sena leader Subhash Desai as the leader of the party in the Assembly. Desai had won from Goregaon constituency in the western suburbs.