Maharashtra: opposition alliance launches its campaign

The recently sewn up 'mega alliance' of Shiv Sena-BJP-RPI-Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) and Rashtriya Samaj Party (RSP) today launched its joint campaign for Lok Sabha elections at a rally here, in the Kolhapur district.
Addressing the rally, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said, "we have got the weakest Prime Minister ever. We will not have such a weak Prime Minister in the future."
"We must not waste our votes, but ensure that Congress- NCP do not come back to power in the state," he said.
Taking a dig at Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan who visited Davos (Switzerland) recently, Uddhav said Chavan was wooing the foreign investors, but the existing industries were leaving the state.

Uddhav also said that the 'Maha-Yuti' (mega-alliance) should also win the Baramati Lok Sabha seat, currently represented by NCP chief Sharad Pawar's daughter, Supriya Sule.
SSS and RSP joined the BJP-Sena-RPI alliance recently.

RPI leader Ramdas Athawale, who is likely to be elected to the Rajya Sabha, said the mega-alliance would strive to hoist the saffron flag at the state legislature.
Senior leaders of the BJP including Gopinath Munde and Vinod Tawde, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana's Raju Shetty and RSP's Mahadev Jankar were present at the rally.
Munde, in his speech, dared NCP to field Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar from Beed against him for the Lok Sabha.