MUMBAI: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray wrote a letter to Anna Hazare on Wednesday declaring his support to his anti-corruption campaign. Thackeray also appealing to him that Hazare should break his fast and others in his team should continue the hunger agitation on his behalf.Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray said his party will support Anna Hazare. Thackeray claimed that Anna was happy to learn that Shiv Sena had decided to openly back him.Bal Thackeray had criticized Hazare in public rallies many a times. Hazare's hunger agitations had forced Shiv Sena minister Shashikant Sutar to quit in the late 90s. Shiv Sena had alleged that Anna was launching agitations in the state at the behest of Sharad Pawar.Uddhav Thackeray denied that his party was ever against Anna. He said the party had some differences earlier with Anna but considering the wider political picture the party has decided to back him. He clarified that the party is not in favour of passing the Lokpal bill in a hurry or before any deadline but wanted the government to consider all versions of the bill before proceeding ahead.While Shiv Sena has decided to back Anna Hazare, Sena's arch rival Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) said that it had openly backed Anna when he launched the Lokpal agitation in April itself. MNS spokesperson Shirish Parkar said, Raj Thackeray had asked Anna to expose corruption in various ministries in the Maharashtra government and even extended help in terms of providing manpower for that. He said that Raj continues to support Anna which he reiterated during his recent Gujarat visit and has been consistent in his political commitment.Another major regional political force, NCP has maintained a complete silence on the issue. Sharad Pawar was in the empowered group of ministers on Lokpal bill but resigned from the group instantly as soon as Anna launched his agitation.