Ramtek (Maharashtra): Launching a vitriolic attack on Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar, the Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray tonight (Apr 17, 2004) equated the Maratha strongman with a snake, who takes shelter in the Congress-fold whenever he (Pawar) senses that his power is on the wane.

Without naming Pawar, Uddhav said, "He (the NCP president) is like a double-headed snake, which crawls towards Congress, whenever his strength is losing."

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Addressing a campaign rally for Sena candidate from Ramtek Subodh Mohite, Uddhav, alluding to the Pawar's on-off alliance with the Congress, said the NCP chief would part ways with Congress after regaining his lost strength.

Recently, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Pramod Mahajan had equated Pawar with Hollywood actress Elizabeth Taylor for his on-off relationship with the Congress.

Coming down heavily on the foreign origin of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Uddhav exhorted people not to allow a "phirangi" (foreigner) to take control of "tiranga" (the national tri-colour).

Saying that he does not have personal animosity against Sonia Gandhi, the Sena leader said, "Congress may be in the need of an imported leadership, but the country can do without it".

"We do not want imported leadership for our nation", Udhav emphasised and reminded the audience that country would have remained in the clutches of the British had thousands of freedom fighters not made supreme sacrifice for the nation.

Opposing Sonia's claim for Prime Ministership, Uddhav said, "It is (her foreign issue) not a mere emotional issue, but a matter of pride for crores of Indians."

Lashing out at the DF rule in Maharashtra, Uddhav said, "It has given 'bhay' (fear) and 'bhrashtachar' (corruption) to the people of the State."

"People of the State are reeling under fear due to instances like serial bomb blasts and by shielding Telgi, the DF regime has set benchmark for corruption," he alleged.

Ridiculing the Congress president's road shows, the Sena leader said, "It is a mere gimmick to hide the fact that she cannot speak effectively and address public meetings."

Earlier, Congress was "Gandhiwadi" (Gandhian), but now it is "gadiwadi" (hungry for power), he remarked.

Uddhav claimed that Congress was a leaderless and directionless party while the Sena-BJP alliance was getting support of farmers and Dalits across the State.

Referring to reports of his being the Chief Ministerial nominee for Maharashtra during the coming Assembly polls, Uddhav, referring to the crowd said, "For me this love and affection of people is more than enough."