Mumbai, March 19 (IANS) Marathi actor Amol Kolhe, who attained popularity for his portrayal of Chhatrapati Shivaji in a TV serial, Wednesday joined the Shiv Sena.
He joined the Shiv Sena in the presence of party chief Uddhav Thackeray.
Kolhe had earlier been in touch with Thackeray's bete-noire, his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray who leads the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). The Shiv Sena has been hit by several high-profile defections in recent weeks.
Kolhe, a doctor by profession, has acted in several TV serials like "Rajmata Jijau", "Olakh" and "Raja Shiv Chhatrapati".
Lashing out at the MNS and Raj Thackeray, he said: "I never approached anybody. They approached me. They even offered me a Lok Sabha nomination, but I had no faith in that party's leadership."
The MNS was planning to name Kolhe for the Shirur Lok Sabha seat, but at the last minute changed its plan and gave the ticket to Ashok Khandebarad.
"I feel happy supporting a party (Shiv Sena) which will show the way in Maharashtra instead of some other party (MNS) which is destroying it," Kolhe said.
The timing could not have been more appropriate as the Shiv Sena Wednesday celebrated the "Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti".
The party was founded by late Bal Thackeray based on the warrior king's ideals.
Asked about the recent defections, Uddhav Thackeray said these were too insignificant to matter for the party.
"But, what about the Nationalist Congress Party? Don't they have good candidates that they have to wait for outsiders to give Lok Sabha tickets," Uddhav said, ridiculing the NCP which has attracted several Shiv Sena defectors.
Bhushan, Yadav quit national executive: AAP
New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav on
In Ukraine, buildings are falling into ruins, while gunpowder in the air is causing uneasiness am
Allan Border urges Australia to Embrace Pressure
Melbourne, Feb 12 (IANS) World Cup-winning captain Allan Border Thursday urged Australia to mak
Karat bats for Third Front, dismisses Modi 'wave'
New Delhi, May 3 (IANS) CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat Saturday batted forcefully for a
Chandrayaan-3: ISRO will try to wake up the lander and rover today, that's why both were sleeping
After the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon on August 23, the lander and rover are
Assam moves to raise force to protect Rhinoceros
Guwahati, Jan 30 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi Friday announced that an 1,200 strong
The government has decided to give a big relief to the medical students. Now 50 percent of seats
Nizam was great, secular ruler: Telangana CM
Hyderabad, Jan 1 (IANS) Showering praise on the Nizam, the ruler of erstwhile Hyderabad State,
The country's refined palm oil imports have increased by 2.7 times to 17.12 lakh tonnes in 11 mon
RBI Governor said - No lockdown is expected like last year
The Reserve Bank of India is discussing with the government the privatization of public sector ba
