The new saffron flag with Shivaji Maharaj's Raj Mudra was launched at the party's first Maha Adhiveshan at Nesco Centre in Goregaon which coincided with the birth anniversary of Bal Keshav Thackeray, founder of the Shiv Sena and Raj's uncle, however, the party is now being ruled by his cousin and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
The Shiv Sena's Hindutva ideology is seen as controversial with its recent decision to govern Maharashtra in coalition with the Congress and the NCP. The three parties came together to form a coalition after the Sena and the BJP won the state election together though parted ways out of dissent on whether the chief minister's post should be shared using a rotation policy.
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The new MNS flag is saffron and adorned with a seal dating back to the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji. The old had blue, green and saffron bands and the image of a train engine portraying that his partry would stand for the welfare of Hindus, Dalits and Muslims and push for the navnirman of Maharashtra.
A bust of Shivaji was displayed at an MNS state executive meeting and one of the images displayed next to it was of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. At the meeting, Raj Thackeray's son Amit was introduced into the MNS.
With launch of new party flag, the MNS is all set to bring a new twist in Mahrashtra politics with the support of several party leaders believing that it will boost the morale of party workers after recent downfalls.
Formed in 2006 after Raj Thackeray left the Shiv Sena, the MNS currently has a single representative in the 289-strong Maharashtra state assembly, all but one of whose members are elected. Senior MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande said the new changes "will bring new energy" to Maharashtra, and a "new twist".