MNS rubbishes reports of exodus of party workers to Sena

Mumbai, July 3 (UNI) Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), led by Raj Thackeray, has rubbished reports of an exodus of officebearers from its ranks to the Shiv Sena.

In a statement here, party General Secretary Praveen Darekar said the MNS was in the process of overhauling the organisation and a reshuffle of officebearers was on cards. The handful of MNS workers joining the Shiv Sena are those who had been ineffective in the MNS and feared removal from their respective posts.

''It is a matter of research as to how many officebearers who published their photographs in newspapers while joining Shiv Sena have been active MNS workers or officebearers,''the release added.

Mr Darekar said''if the reasons of the workers joining Shiv Sena are verified, one can ascertain whether Shiv Sena's attempts to weaken MNS has succeeded or backfired.'' He said that in the Mumbai municipal elections earlier this year, MNS had registered a good vote percentage and was consolidating its base in the city especially North Mumbai.

''Those spreading rumours about an exodus from the MNS ranks are worried over the support received by our party from the people of Mumbai,''Darekar added.

UNI