Lure of BMC money brought Congress, NCP together: Sena

Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday accused Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party of forging an alliance for the February 16 polls to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation with the sole purpose of filling their pockets with taxpayers' money.

"These parties (Congress and NCP) have stooped so low that they are attacking each other in their election campaigns for Zilla Parishad polls. They have joined hands to contest the Mumbai civic poll. I am sure Mumbaikars will not let this happen," Uddhav said while addressing a rally.

Uddhav also took potshots at his estranged cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray, who was recently denied permission by the Bombay high court to hold an election rally on Shivaji Park ground in central Mumbai.

"For Shiv Sena, where we stand, the crowd rallies for us. We never care whether we get a ground or not," he said.

Earlier, the Shiv Sena executive president felicitated the candidates contesting for the February 16 polls and even the rebels who backed out in support of the official contestants.

The Shiv Sena, Bharatiya Janata Party and Republican Party of India have sealed an alliance to contest the polls.

Meanwhile, referring to its earlier truck with the ruling Congress, RPI chief Ramdas Athawale said, "It was our mistake to go with the Congress for all these years. Let me assure you that the same will not be repeated and even the assembly will be captured by our alliance".