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'I am ready to resign as Sena chief'

Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray says he does not care whether he remained the chief of his party for a 'lifetime' -- in fact, he wouldn't care if he had to resign 'right now'.

The statement, Thackeray said, was made to Chief Election Commissioner Dr M S Gill, whom he met at Raj Bhavan in Bombay last week. It was a response to the Election Commission's strong exception to the Shiv Sena electing him its chief for life.

The Sena chief, who talked with Dr Gill for 45 minutes, said he categorically conveyed to the CEC that he was not at all interested in what post he held.

"It makes no difference to me if I remain Shiv Sena pramukh for a lifetime or for five years," he said, "I am ready to resign as Sena chief right now and free myself. I don't have any great attraction to this post."

He said his party was ready to adhere to all election laws -- but how far will it be proper for the EC to believe that whatever it does is right? Does the EC has the right to intervene in the internal affairs of a political party?

Thackeray said he presented Dr Gill with Savegana Shiv Sena, an audio collection of songs prepared for the Sena poll campaign, and also discussed R K Laxman's paintings with him.

Compiled from the Marathi media by Prasanna D Zore

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