Mumbai: The decision by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray to support BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is proving costly.
Muslim party workers, who stood behind the controversial Hindu leader ever since he broke away from Shiv Sena to form own party, are not only expressing their anger but are also resigning from the party posts to protest the decision.
According to the available reports, Abdul Azeez Shaikh, president of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Mumbra unit in Thane district, has resigned from his post and also from the primary membership of the party.
Muslim party workers in other Maharashtra districts including Nashik, where the MNS has a strong base and have its own Mayor, are also expressing anger against Raj Thackeray's decision to support Narendra Modi.
Raj Thackeray on Sunday not only announced his party's open support to Narendra Modi but also said he will not field party candidates against the BJP.
He, however, declared the names of seven of his party leaders who will contest the ensuing Lok Sabha polls apparently to challenge the Shiv Sena candidates.
The decision reportedly followed after Raj Thackeray held a secret meeting with BJP leaders led by Nitin Gadkari few days ago.
Interestingly, the BJP-MNS hobnobbing has also upset the Shiv Sena, which is opposing Narendra Modi ever since BJP named him as its prime ministerial candidate.
Muslim community leaders however say they are not surprised by Raj Thackeray's decision to support Modi. They say that Raj Thackeray and Narendra Modi both have the same mentality and their politics is based on hatred and anti-Muslim agenda.
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