In a significant political move, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, MNS, has declined Bharatiya Janata Party's proposal to join Sena-BJP alliance and said that the party will contest the upcoming general election in Maharashtra . Addressing party workers on the eighth foundation day of the party in Mumbai today, MNS chief Raj Thackeray also declared his party's support for BJP's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi. He also announced the first list of seven MNS candidates contesting lok sabha elections in Maharashtra.

The announcement comes days after former BJP chief
Nitin Gadkari had met Raj Thackeray requesting him not to field candidates for the general elections. BJP has,however, welcomed the move by the MNS