MNS plans to change party symbol

Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which is struggling to stay politically relevant in the state, is planning to tweak its election symbol ahead of the BMC election.

The direction of Raj Thackeray-led party’s symbol — a railway engine — is likely to be reversed from right to left. The change, however, will be accepted by the Election Commission only after submitting necessary documents, a senior party leader said.

The strength of the party, which sprung up a surprise by winning 13 assembly seats in 2009, shrunk to one in the 2014 polls.

Now, with BMC elections round the corner the party seems to have decided to change its symbol in a bid to find its lost glory. Though the exact reasons behind the change is not clear, the proposed move has been welcomed by its leaders and workers.

“We will decide about the exact symbol once the elections are announced,” Shishir Shinde, MNS leader said. On being asked about party’s plans to submit the change in symbol to the ECI, another leader said, “Once we are ready with all the documents, we will proceed and ensure that we get the symbol we want.”