The Hindu : National : Maharashtra campaign ends

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Wednesday, Jan 31, 2007
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National

National

Maharashtra campaign ends

Special Correspondent

Hung Houses predicted in many cities

MUMBAI: The fierce campaign for 10 municipal corporations of Maharashtra, considered a mini general poll in view of the growing importance of urban areas, ended on Tuesday evening as indications and some surveys predict hung houses in most of the cities.

It is to be seen if the Shiv Sena, that has been suffering desertions, will retain its principal power base Mumbai and adjacent Thane city where it is ruling with its ally, the BJP.

It would have been easy for the Congress and the NCP to author the end of the Shiv Sena had they remained together. But the parties, which share power in the State and at the Centre, parted ways on seat sharing. The campaign saw their leaders indulging in bitter exchanges and allegations till the end, making one wonder if they had given up fighting their real political opponents, the Shiv Sena and the BJP.

NCP leader and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar addressed public meetings in several cities as his party attempted to create a base in urban areas.

The Shiv Sena Chief, Bal Thackeray, who had earlier announced that he would not take part in electioneering any more, led the party's campaign and made controversial statements even against the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in his typical unsavoury style.

PTI reports from New Delhi:

Mr. Thackeray on Monday termed the delay in executing the death sentence of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal ``an insult to the law of the land'' and said there was no need for the President to send the clemency plea to Union Home Ministry.

Major political parties on Tuesday came down heavily on Mr. Thackeray for his remarks on Mr. Kalam, with the Congress saying the Shiv Sena supremo was making ``provocative'' statements as his own party was in the doldrums.

``You can imagine that his own house has disintegrated, his party has split, his sons have split up and he is trying to divide the country by making such provocative comments against the President,'' senior Congress leader and Tourism Minister Ambika Soni told reporters.

Mr. Pawar dubbed the remarks ``irresponsible.''

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said the President was ``no longer an individual once he is elected to the post. He represents an institution and anybody who honours the Constitution will have to pay respect to the position."

Asked whether BJP agreed with Mr. Thackeray's views, senior party leader M. Venakiah Naidu told reporters in Mumbai that ``whatever he said is his personal opinion. We have nothing to do with it."

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