Sunday, December 18 2005 13:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Rebel leader Raj Thackeray today announced that he is quitting Shiv Sena and would form a new political outfit next year.

Addressing a press conference at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai, Raj said, "I had sought respect, but all I got was humiliation".

Raj, however, made it clear that would not be joining any other political party.

"After I announced my decision to quit all Sena posts, several party MPs, MLAs and Corprators had contacted me saying they were with me but I do not want to create my party by breaking the Sena", Raj said.

He said that in a letter to Sena Chief Bal Thackeray on November 25, he had written that "Under the leadership of his cousin and party Executive President Uddav Thackeray, the party was stinking and Uddhav should be held accountable for the party's debacle in Malvan Assembly poll".

"No such thing happened. The Sena, with Uddhav and his corterie taking all the decisions, has been floundering in the past six-seven years", Raj said.