Shiv Sena replaces senior spokespersons by five new faces

MUMBAI: In a major overhaul post Maharashtra Assembly elections, Shiv Sena has appointed five new spokespersons replacing the party's old guard.

Among Sena leaders who have been asked to call it a day are Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, veteran leader Manohar Joshi, party General secretary Subhash Desai and Shweta Parulekar.

The new appointees include south Mumbai Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant, MLA from Pune's Purandhar constituency Vijay Shivtare, party leaders Dr Manisha Kayande, Arvind Bhosale and Marathi actor Dr Amol Kolhe.

A senior Shiv Sena leader, confirming the change in guard, told today that by appointing new spokespersons, the party wants to push forward the younger generation to take on aggressive leaders from rival parties.

"By appointing new people, our party is only giving the younger generation a chance to take on the ever aggressive party rivals. There have been many television channels that have come up lately so we needed more spokespersons anyway," the Sena leader said.

The leader added that party veterans like Manohar Joshi and Sanjay Raut do not need the designation of a spokesperson to interact with media.

"Except Shweta (Parulekar), all others are very senior leaders. They do not need the tag of a spokesperson to speak to media. They have the authority to speak on any topic, specially Raut ji. He is the working editor of 'Saamana' and he is the one who decides the editorial content as per directions of Uddhav ji (Thackeray). He is the guide for all spokespersons," she said.

"As far as Subahsh Desai is concerned, he is the general secretary of the party in-charge of giving responsibilities to every leader. So why will he not talk to the media," the leader added.