Thaindian News

Aurangabad (Maharashtra), June 23 (IANS) Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray Thursday said Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gopinath Munde decided against joining the Congress after he failed to clinch a good offer from it.

Speaking to mediapersons here, Thackeray, however, said that Munde is not likely to remain with the BJP for very long.

“He has stated that he would continue in the BJP and denied plans of joining the Congress. That’s because he did not get a good enough offer from Congress,” Raj observed.

Raj’s comments came a day after his uncle and Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray said that Munde’s departure would not affect the Sena-BJP-RPI (Republican Party of India) alliance in the state.

Munde said in Mumbai Thursday that he would embark on a tour of the state to ascertain the views of the ordinary party activists, but did not elaborate. He also hit out at unidentified persons who allegedly sought to malign his image in the past one month by spreading rumours that he was joining the Congress.

“The true face of the persons who attempted to tarnish my image has been exposed before all,” Munde said, but did not name anyone.

Meanwhile, Thackeray, referring to social crusader Anna Hazare’s forthcoming agitation in New Delhi, said it would be better if Hazare carried out his agitation in Maharashtra instead of Delhi.

He noted that in the absence of a strong and effective opposition, both in Maharashtra and at the centre, the common masses have come out in support of independent activists like Hazare and yoga guru Baba Ramdev.

The MNS chief had come to the city in connection with a summons from a local court in a case relating to attacks on north Indians over two years ago.