Raj Thackeray sacks six MNS officials

Two days before its fourth foundation day, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Sunday sacked six zonal chiefs for anti party activities.

Party insiders said it was part of party president Raj Thackeray’s ‘clean-up drive’.

While replacing two of his close aides, Yashwant Killedar (Mahim) and Vinayak Mhashilkar (Worli), Thackeray has promoted a Muslim, Sharif Deshmukh, at the zonal level in Mumbadevi.

Sandeep Deshpande, the party’s man behind its well-publicisedcampaign of drawing cartoons of its opponents, too has been elevated to the zonal level. He will replace Killedar.

“Raj suspected Killedar and Mhashilkar of indulging in anti-party activities,” a source in the MNS said. “Killedar had openly expressed his displeasure after he was denied a party ticket from Mahim during the assembly election.” Nitin Sardesai, Raj’s confidant, contested from Mahim and won by more than 30,000 votes.

After the reshuffle, Dhanraj Naik will replace Baban Mahadik, Malabar Hill, Dattatray Belankar will replace Mhashilkar, Worli, Deepak Desai will replace Jitendra Nagvekar, Charkop, and Vaibhav Nandgaonkar will replace Rajesh Sharma, Dharavi. MNS has 36 zonal chiefs in the city.

More changes were in the offing, the source said. “Bala Nandgaonkar may lead the trade union instead of Manoj Chavan,” he said. The MNS will celebrate its fourth foundation day on March 9 at Yashwantrao Hall, Matunga.