India, Oct. 6 -- With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections approaching, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has decided to revive an old organisational arm that once played a key role in mobilising the Marathi workforce. On October 9, the party will launch its own version of the Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti Mahasangh (SLSM), modelled on the original body formed by Bal Thackeray, founder of Shiv Sena, to secure employment opportunities for locals in public sector units and banks.

Senior leader and MP Gajanan Kirtikar, who once headed the undivided Sena's SLSM, will now lead the new wing in the Shinde faction. "Balasaheb had set up SLSM to fight the hardships faced by the Marathi manoos. Late Sudhir Joshi was the first head, I ...