Maharashtra Navnirman Sena
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| Maharashtra Navnirman Sena | |
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| Party chairperson | Raj Thackeray |
|---|---|
| Founded | 9 March 2006 |
| Headquarters | Mumbai |
| Alliance | Indian National Congress |
| Seats in Lok Sabha | 0 |
| Seats in Rajya Sabha | 0 |
| Political ideology | Hindutva[citation needed] Indian nationalism[citation needed] Regionalism[citation needed] Pro-Marathi[citation needed] |
| Publications | None |
| Website | http://mnvsena.org |
| See also the politics of India series | |
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र नवनिर्माण सेना, English translation: Maharashtra Reconstruction Army) is a regional political party operative in Maharashtra, India. It was founded on the 9th of March 2006 in Mumbai. Its president and founder is Raj Thackeray.
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[edit] Foundation
The party was founded by Raj Thackeray, nephew of Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray. Raj Thackeray resigned 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".
At the time of the party's foundation, Raj Thackeray stated that he does not want to have hostilities with his uncle who "was, is and always will be (his) mentor".
[edit] Controversies
[edit] 2008 violence against North Indians in Maharashtra
In February 2008, some MNS activists clashed with Samajwadi Party (SP) workers in Mumbai when Samajwadi Party supporters attended a rally at Shivaji Park, Dadar, Mumbai, a stronghold of MNS, where Samajwadi Party leader, Abu Asim Azmi made a fiery speech. After the clashes, 73 MNS activists and 19 SP workers were arrested by Mumbai Police for indulging in violence.[1]
On February 6, 2008, reportedly, about 200 Maharashtra Navnirman Sena party workers quit the party and joined Shiv Sena to protest against MNS's so-called anti-north Indian agenda.[2] [3]
A petition was filed in the Patna civil court on February 8th against Thackeray for his alleged remarks over Chhath, Bihar's most popular festival.[4] Mr. Thackeray maintains he is not against Chhath Puja, but against the "show of arrogance" displayed by some people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar on this occasion.
On February 10, 2008, MNS workers attacked vendors and shopkeepers from North India in various parts of Maharashtra, and destroyed government property to vent their anger against the reported move to arrest Raj Thackeray.[5] Nashik police detained 26 MNS workers for the violence.
[edit] External links
- Official Maharashtra Navnirman Sena student wing Website
- Raj Thackerey's response in The Indian Express to Sudheendra Kulkarni's criticism
