I decided to snap ties with Shiv Sena on citizen's demand: Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Sunday that he had snapped ties with Shiv Sena on the demand of Thane citizens. "I had decided to snap the ties with Shiv Sena not becauset he party workers wanted it but I received several SMSes from citizens of the city (Thane) asking me to snap the ties with the (Shiv) Sena. And I am bound to abide by their demands andsnapped the ties," the Chief Minister said addressing a rally of BJP workers at Thane on Sunday afternoon.

Election to the Thane Municipal Corporation is scheduled on February 21. BJP and Shiv Sena are going solo in all the 10 Municipal Corporation polls in Maharashtra. "Thane district was a bastion of RSS, Jana Sangh and BJPand it was in the national interest, BJP had an alliance withthe saffron party (Shiv Sena) but now it is realised that they(Shiv Sena) are deviating from their principles and hence wesnapped the ties," he said.

"The decision of the BJP to go alone (in the civic polls)charged the workers, who are working with enthusiasm,"Fadnavis said. The Chief Minister further said "TMC had become the seat of corruption and misdeeds and we want to bring in a change in it".

"Thane is no ones monopoly and we are determined to snatch it from the hands of the (Shiv) Sena". As regards to Thane the Shiv Sena which was Anand Dighe's Sena has not remained the same and it has become the Sena of those with selfish interest," the Chief Minister added.

Late Anand Dighe was Thane District chief of Shiv Sena and responsible for its growth in the district. Taking a jibe at Sena leaders, who apparently distributed tickets among their family members, Fadnavis said, "This indicates their selfish motives and interest of the city is not at all protected".