Over 200 MNS members rejoin Shiv Sena

Mumbai, Feb 6 (UNI) In a jolt to Raj Thackeray and his party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), over 200 MNS members today rejoined their parent party, Shiv Sena (SS), at Matoshree--Bal Thackeray's residence here in Bandra.

Speaking to UNI over the phone, Shiv Sena party secretary Vinayak Raut said over 200 members of MNS under the leadership of Avinash Gite, MNS Shakha Pramukh of Dindoshi and Goregaon, and Woman Wing Pramukh Pranali Parab, rejoined Shiv Sena this afternoon.

He said some of the members told Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray that they had realised their ''folly of joining MNS,'' and therefore would like to be taken back into the Shiv Sena.

Mr Thackeray welcomed them and told them to let bygones be bygones. ''Forget whatever happened in past and we too will do the same. We are like a family, so, from now onwards start working for your Party,'' Mr Thackeray said.

MNS has been in the news in the last few days for targeting north Indians, and for Raj Thackeray's remarks against superstar Amitabh Bachchan. This seems to be an immediate fallout of the policies followed by Raj Thackeray within his party.

UNI ST/GS NM YA DS1522