In a major setback to the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) ahead of the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, nearly half a dozen party leaders, including a former corporator, a former University of Mumbai Senate member, and a party spokesperson, have quit over the last few days.

Former corporator Santosh Dhuri met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis late on Monday night, and a day later joined the BJP. Dhuri is a close aide of MNS Mumbai unit chief Sandeep Depshande. Speaking with mid-day, Dhuri said, “I decided to quit as MNS chief Raj Thackeray surrendered his party to Sena UBT, headed by Uddhav Thackeray.”