MNS holds protest against defectors

Mumbai: Stunned over the Shiv Sena allegedly luring six of its corporators, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has been finding it difficult to come to grips with the sudden development. Irate party workers on Saturday gathered outside the residence of MNS chief Raj Thackeray and raised slogans against the defectors as well as Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. According to party sources, the MNS chief expressed displeasure over the split in the party while holding discussions with party officials. He has directed party activists to hold protests against the six corporators who quit the party and joined Shiv Sena on Friday. “Rajsaheb said that what these corporators did was not good at all. But their position in Shiv Sena will be no better. They will find themselves neither here nor there,” said a senior party official.

Sanjay Turde, the lone MNS corporator who decided not to quit the party, has vowed never to abandon Mr Thackeray. “I will remain loyal to Rajsaheb under any circumstances,” he said.

Meanwhile, to avoid any untoward incident, all six defectors — Dilip Lande, Parmeshwar Kadam, Archana Bhalerao, Ashwini Matekar, Harshala More and Dattaram Narwankar — have been given police protection at their residences. However, they are not at their residences as Shiv Sena has shifted them to unknown place, said sources.

The registration of a new group is likely to take place at Konkan divisional commissioner office on Monday, said a Sena official.