India, June 20 -- Emphasising the need to protect the interests of Mumbai, Marathi and Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray, addressing the speculation around his party's alliance with the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, said that he would do "whatever the people of Maharashtra want". The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief was speaking at the 59th anniversary function of the Shiv Sena, and his aggressive speech sounded the bugle for the upcoming BMC polls.

Thackeray declared that the BJP and Shinde were desperately trying to prevent his alliance with his estranged cousin's party in order to prevent the Sena (UBT) from returning to power in Mumbai. They do not want the Marathi manoos to unite and are organising meetings for this," he said. The ...