MNS chief not even a municipal-level leader: Sharad

Shahdol, MP, Nov 18 (UNI) Janata Dal (United) President Sharad Yadav today alleged that Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray was being projected at Congress' behest though he was not even a ''municipal-level'' leader.

After addressing meetings at Jabalpur, Sidhi, Katni, Mandla and Shahdol in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, he pointed out to mediapersons here that the MNS did not have even five members in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

''The Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party gave tickets to moneyed people whose sole qualification is wealth. Those who were not part of any political party are now candidates of national parties and such people become agents of disarray,'' he said.

The retail business is the second largest source of employment -- after agriculture -- and 22 crore people are associated with it, Mr Yadav said, adding the Centre's United Progressive Alliance regime was snatching the retail trade and handing it over to capitalists.

''No party will gain majority in Madhya Pradesh,'' he felt.

UNI XC-KV AC SW KN1835