'No impact of Raj Thackeray's MNS on Sena'

Mumbai, Mar 20: The launch of Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) yesterday, despite an overwhelming response the rally received, will not have any impact on the Shiv Sena, senior leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi today (Mar 20, 2006) claimed.

Talking to reporters after being declared unopposed to Rajya Sabha today, Joshi claimed that Sena, on the contrary, will further grow.

Commenting on Raj's speech last night, Joshi said the former was toeing the Sena line on many issues that he touched upon.

Joshi thanked Sena Chief Bal Thackeray and Executive President Uddhav Thackeray for nominating him to the Rajya Sabha.

The former Lok Sabha Speaker said that he would raise the issues relating to Mumbai and the long-pending boundary dispute with Karnataka and work for the unity of MPs from Maharashtra, irrespective of parties, on important issues concerning the State.

UNI