Mumbai: The Congress-led alliances victory in just-concluded Maharashtra polls might be due to vote-bank of minorities, but in future the threat of Muslim fundamentalism will cost dearly not only to Congress but also to India, Shiv Sena Supremo Bal Thackeray warned in Mumbai today (Oct 18, 2004).

Reacting to the Sena-BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) saffron combines debacle in the State Assembly polls, Thackeray, without elaborating, criticised Congress policy of sidestepping national interests for its vote-bank politics.

What about Sonia Gandhi? Tomorrow if the country faces a threat from Islamic fundamentalism, then she will leave for Italy along with her two children, Thackeray said in the Sena mouthpiece Saamna referring to the Congress president.

The vote-bank of Muslims and influx of people to Mumbai changed the equations against the saffron alliance, he said.

Congress might be tom-toming of securing Muslim votes, he said adding, they (Congress) should know that it includes Bangladeshi Muslims as well.

The situation could lead to spread of Islamic fundamentalism across the country at the time when the Government at the Centre is weak, he claimed.

He lashed out at the Democratic Front (DF)-regime of last five years for its ineffective performance and claimed that though people have elected them, they (the ruling alliance) lack unity and bickering among them were on.

Thackeray was alluding to the race for Chief Ministership among the Congress and the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party).

Meanwhile, Sena sources stated that party supremo will be addressing the annual 'Dussehra' rally at the sprawling Shivaji Park in central Mumbai and was expected to analyse in details the Sena-BJPs (Bharatiya Janata Party) failure at the hustings and provide a new direction to the party for the future.