Mumbai, January 6 (HS): Former corporator and leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Santosh Dhuri, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday. Mumbai BJP president Amit Satam welcomed Dhuri into the party and said that he would be given due respect and responsibility within the organisation.

Speaking at the BJP Mumbai office, Amit Satam said that Santosh Dhuri’s induction into the BJP was being formally announced. He said that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had facilitated a 560-square-foot house in Worli in the ward represented by Dhuri, and that housing had also been provided to Marathi families. Satam said Dhuri had joined the BJP to fight against terrorist and jihadi forces and asserted that the spirit of Hindutva should not be diluted.

Addressing the gathering, Santosh Dhuri said that he was joining the BJP under the leadership of Mumbai BJP president Amit Satam. He said that when MNS was formed in 2007, he had joined it after leaving the Shiv Sena, later serving as a branch president and corporator.

Santosh Dhuri resigned from all posts in the MNS on Monday. Following his resignation, he met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with Minister Nitesh Narayan Rane. Dhuri formally joined the BJP on Tuesday.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar