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Thackeray rejects BJP's demand, says Manohar Joshi will continue as CM

Fresh from his three-month 'political hibernation', Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today hinted at a major reshuffle at the organisational level, and said he had already finalised a new list of party shakha pramukhs and upvibhag pramukhs.

Talking to the media at his residence, Thackeray said a list of zilla pramukhs (district chiefs) would be brought out soon. He ruled out any changes in the government set-up, and said Chief Minister Manohar Joshi would continue in office for the full term.

He expressed satisfaction in Joshi's capabilities as chief minister, and said, ''The chief minister is hard working and is doing very well. He takes lot of efforts''.

''If people are getting junk, it is better to remove them. I will not spare anyone at the cost of my organisation,'' he said, adding that the Sena-BJP alliance government had not performed ''that badly''. ''I expect it to become more people- oriented''.

Thackeray said Joshi and high-profile BJP leader Pramod Mahajan met him late last night. But, he refused to divulge any details of the meeting.

When asked about the reported resolution passed by the BJP state unit demanding Joshi's ouster, the Sena chief said if the BJP has any grouse against the Shiv Sena, the problems should be discussed with him rather than going public. ''In an alliance, likes and dislikes should not be at the Jayalalitha level,'' he said.

Thackeray said he would effect organisational changes keeping in mind the political scenario leading to the assembly elections which are a year and a half away. The opposition propaganda over farmers's suicides in Vidarbha and Marathwada has also softened, as the government has published full list of the farmers and the reasons for their suicide.

Lashing out at the Congress, he said, ''The Congress cannot face us alone. Our defeat in the Lok Sabha elections can be attributed to its alliance with the Samajwadi Party and the Republican Party of India."

He declined to comment on rebel Sena leaders Ganesh Naik and Gulabrao Gavande who were sacked from the state ministry. ''They are not important to me. Kicking out a few people will not help the party, they should be removed from the present post of members of legislature.''

UNI

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