They are patriarchs of their partiesu00a0-- one young and audacious, the other ageing but arrogant; MiD DAY brings you ground reports from Bal and Raj Thackeray's rallies in the city yesterday

It was a clash of the titans, a war of the two Senas ahead of the February 16 civic polls as Bal Thackeray and his nephew Raj addressed two massive rallies in the city on the same day. While it's time for Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to prove its worth at the BMC polls, it is a question of survival for Shiv Sena. The corporation has been Shiv Sena's bastion since 1996. Around 50,000 turned up for the elder Thackeray's rally at MMRDA Grounds in Bandra-Kurla complex, and about 15,000 attended his nephew's congregation at Worli's Jamboree Maidan.

Perhaps, with age and ill health taking their toll, the Shiv Sena patriarch was uncharacteristically subdued, with occasional roars. Raj on the other hand was at his flamboyant best, ready to take on the world. They covered diverse issues, made many promises, levelled numerous charges and defended several accusations. Here are a few common points the two Thackerays touched upon:

On Raj leaving Sena



Raj Thackeray: Between 2001 and 2003 I was cooling my heels in the party without any specific responsibility. I was remembered only in 2004 when the Sena chief summoned me once at Matoshri as assembly elections were approaching. I was asked to start campaigning.

As alleged by him, I did not ask for Mumbai in sheer disappointment when they decided to pitch me before Narayan Rane in Sindhudurg-Ratnagiri.

I have high respect for Bal Thackeray. But he doesn't know how the party is being run now. He doesn't venture out of home. I would walk 100 steps towards Bal Thackeray, but not for Uddhav Thackeray and his coterie.