Click to play videoMumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray has rejected the Shiv Sena’s claim that he divided Marathi votes during Assembly elections and says he will work for the state’s development.
“Why do you say I divided votes? After all my party MLAs have been elected by the people,” Thackeray told Network18 in his first TV interview after counting of Assembly election votes on Thursday.
“If there's a problem within my party, I will try to solve it. By blaming others, you can't solve your own problems,” he said, hinting at the criticism of his party by Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray.
“If my work does some good for Maharashtra, Balasaheb will definitely be happy,” said Raj Thackeray.
Thackeray, whose party won 13 seats in the elections, said the MNS would play the role of a constructive Opposition and raise issues that matter to the people. “I never wanted to be kingmaker. It's not just by supporting the government that I can get work done. I will use the Opposition space to do that,” he said.
Thackeray didn’t elaborate what his plans for the state were, saying: “You will get to see in the how I do it. I don't need to give any promos for that. You can see the film directly.”
Thackeray, whose party workers of attacking North Indian immigrant workers, admitted his party was “aggressive” but was not unlawful. “There will be times when I will have to be aggressive. It will be done outside the Assembly,” he said.
“I am not opposed to any language but I insist on Marathi. We should speak Marathi now instead of blaming the future generations.”
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