Just three days ahead of the crucial Maharashtra Assembly Elections, Bollywood megastar Salman Khan’s bodyguard and close aide Shera joined Shiv Sena on Friday. Shera, whose real name is Gurmeet Singh, joined the party in presence of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and son Aditya Thackeray at their residence ‘Matoshree’ in Mumbai. The news was confirmed by Shiv Sena as it shared the photos on its official Twitter handle. Gurmeet Singh alias Shera ji, close confidant of actor Salman Khan ji, joined Shiv Sena in presence of party chief Uddhav Saheb Thackeray and Yuva Sena chief @AUThackeray at Matoshree residence today, Shiva Sena said on Twitter.
अà¤à¤¿à¤¨à¥‡à¤¤à¥‡ सलमान खान जी यांचे निषà¥Âठावंत व विशà¥Âवासू गà¥Âरमीत सिंग उरà¥Âफ शेरा जी यांनी आज मातोशà¥Âरी निवाससà¥Âथानी येथे शिवसेना पकà¥Âषपà¥Âरमà¥Âख मा. शà¥Âरी. उदà¥Âधव साहेब ठाकरे आणि यà¥Âवासेनापà¥Âरमà¥Âख @AUThackeray यांचà¥Âया उपसà¥Âथितीत शिवसेनेत जाहीर पà¥Âरवेश केला. pic.twitter.com/UQ2YN4CAnp
— ShivSena - शिवसेना (@ShivSena) October 18, 2019
Maharashtra will go to polls on October 21 and the counting of votes will take place on October 24.
Earlier, Shiv Sena had released its election manifesto ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections. The manifesto was released in the presence of party chief Uddhav Thackeray and Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray – who is the first Thackeray to contest election - at Matoshree. Priyanka Chaturvedi along with other Sena leaders were also present at the event.
#VIDEO | Salman Khan's bodyguard #Shera joins @ShivSena in Maharashtra #ElectionsWithNewsNation#MaharashtraAssemblyElections
READ full story: https://t.co/M0aaR5YTOj pic.twitter.com/Cv10YbM98B— News Nation (@NewsNationTV) October 19, 2019
In its manifesto, Sena promised 30 per cent reduction in electricity rate, assured better pricing of fertilizers, pesticides, etc for farmers and promised Rs 10,000 to needy farmers every year. “Electricity Rate, Nutritionists meal, transport for school/ college students, farmers issues, Fasal Bima Yojna, are the points which will be on priorities and we will fulfill our promises,” the Yuva Sena chief said.
He added that smaller manifestos will be also released for separate regions apart from the one for the entire state of Maharashtra.
Talking about the trees cutting in Aarey colony, Uddhav Thackeray said that only his party should not be held responsible. "Every party should make their stand clear on the Aarey issue. The Shiv Sena will continue to protest against the deforestation of Aarey," the party chief said.
Although the Sena and the BJP are alliance partner in Maharashtra, it seems the two parties have not managed to reach a consensus on a common manifesto.
The BJP and the Sena had contested the 2014 Maharashtra Assembly polls separately, but had later come together to form the government in the state. The BJP had emerged as the single-largest party in the 2014 polls with 122 seats, followed by the Sena with 63 in the 288-member House.