Uddhav apprehensive about future of BJP-Shiv Sena alliance

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday expressed his apprehension about the future of his party's alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying the alliance cannot come at the cost of self-respect.

Addressing the party workers at the NSE grounds in Goregaon on the occasion of Shiv Sena's 50-year celebrations, Uddhav critisized both the Centre as well as the state government for failing to reign in rising prices.

"I am not sure about the alliance in coming elections, but be ready to fight it alone also," he said.

"I want to make it clear that I don't want break the alliance but at the same won't do alliance at the cost of self respect," he added.

The Shiv Sena on Sunday celebrated the party's golden anniversary through a series of events held across the city.

An exhibition capturing key moments of the party's 50-year journey in politics was also opened at opened at NSE grounds in Goregaon.

The Shiv Sena was founded by Bal Thackeray, a cartoonist-turned-political leader, on June 19, 1966, to fight for the rights of Marathi-speaking people.

The Shiv Sena bagged 42 seats in the Thane Municipal Corporation for the first time 1968.

The party sent its first MLA to the state assembly in 1972. The party's first Mayor was installed at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in 1973.

In 2003, Bal Thackeray's son Uddhav was chosen over nephew Raj, as the executive president of the Shiv Sena.

The event comes when the party continues to be locked in a tussle with the BJP, with which it is an ally in power.

The event comes when the party continues to be locked in a tussle with the BJP, most recently over issues in the city, from the irregularities in the roads works to the construction of the Metro-3 line.