No alliance with BJP, Sena on cards: Raj Thackeray

NASHIK: MNS president Raj Thackeray on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of any tie-up with Shiv Sena and BJP, a day after Sena chief Bal Thackeray put to rest speculations of a tripartite alliance of the three parties.

"We have no intention to form alliance," Raj said in Nashik. BJP stalwart Gopinath Munde created a stir last week by saying that a tripartite alliance of Shiv Sena, BJP and MNS was needed to pull down the ruling Congress-NCP combine.

He was speaking in the context of MNS dividing votes of the saffron alliance during last Assembly polls which could be avoided with the new formula.

Sena supremo Bal Thackeray had said in the editorial in party mouthpiece Samana yesterday that no "Zandu Balm" - MNS - was needed for the alliance.

Talking to reporters here, the MNS chief said in the same vein that not "Munni" (referring to the song in the movie Dabangg) but "Munde" got bad name (badnaam) in the process.

He also said his appeal to Marathi youth to appear for railway recruitment exam has succeeded, as over 1.65 lakh applications were received at MNS headquarters alone.

Raj is in Nashik to discuss strategy for the upcoming civic elections in the city with the party workers.