Thane (Maharashtra), March 6 (IANS) In a surprise political development, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Tuesday offered 'unconditional' support to the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party-Republican Party of India alliance in the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC).

The development came after Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray Tuesday conveyed the request through three emissaries, all Sena legislators, to his estranged nephew - and MNS chief - Raj Thackeray.

Confirming the development, Raj told mediapersons in Mumbai that the support to SS-BJP-RPI is "purely localized" and should not be construed in any other manner.

"The mandate (of the Thane electorate) has gone in favour of SS-BJP-RPI. They should not be left at the mercy of the hanging swords of independents. Balasaheb wants the development of Thane, so our support is for the progress and development of the city," Raj asserted.

Raj added that he respected the wishes of his uncle and accordingly decided that MNS's seven corporators should extend support to the three-party saffron alliance in TMC.

In last month's TMC elections, the SS-BJP-RPI alliance secured a total of 62 seats against the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party's 52, giving a hung verdict in the 130-seat house. MNS bagged seven seats while others secured the remaining nine.

Following the unconditional support by the MNS, the saffron alliance now enjoys the support of 69 corporators, enabling it to control the TMC administration for the next five years.

This will help Shiv Sena to install its mayor - H.S. Patil - in the elections scheduled Tuesday evening.