Maharashtra Navnirman Sena
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The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र नवनिर्माण सेना, English: Maharashtra Revitalization Army) is a regional political party operative in Maharashtra, India. It was founded on the 9th of March 2006 in Mumbai.
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[edit] Founder
The party was founded by Raj Thackeray, nephew of Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray. Raj broke away from his uncle's party in January 2006 and announced his intention to start a new political party. The reason given by him for breaking away from the Shiv Sena was that the latter was "run by petty clerks" because of which it had "fallen from its former glory".
[edit] Foundation Ceremony
Raj paid a visit to the famed Siddhivinayak Temple on the morning of 9th March. That evening he held a meeting at the Y. B Chavan Centre, where he announced the name of his party and unfurled its blue, saffron and green coloured flag. The meeting was attended by a large number of Raj's supporters, other breakaway Shiv Sainiks and mediapersons.
[edit] Relations with the Sena
Raj has stated that he does not want to have hostilities with his uncle who "was, is and always will be {his} mentor". However with Sena insiders claiming that more Sainiks wanted to break away from Balasaheb's "ailing" party, tensions between Raj and his uncle seem inevitable.
[edit] Policies
Raj has said he will reveal more about his parties policies in the coming weeks. He has already said that his party's motto will be I am of Maharashtra, Maharashtra is mine. Critics say this reflects the Thackeray family's regionalistic attitude and their communal Hindutva ideology. Many differ as Raj has from start declared his party MNS to be a secular political party which accepts anyone and everyone who says Maharashtra belongs to them and they belong to Maharashtra.
