In a jolt to the BJP ahead of the bypoll to the Palghar Lok Sabha seat, the two sons of its late tribal MP from the constituency Chintaman Wanga today bid farewell to their party and joined the Shiv Sena.
The two sons of the late MP - Srinivas and Praful Wanga - along with their mother Jayashree joined the Sena in the presence of party president Uddhav Thackeray.
They earlier called on the Sena president at his 'Matoshri' residence in suburban Bandra.
Speaking to reporters, the two sons accused Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP president Raosaheb Danve of neglecting the family after the death of their father and refusing audience despite their repeated requests.
Prior to meeting Thackeray, the two sons and their mother said Chintaman Wanga spent 35 years of his life in expanding the BJP's support base in the Palghar (ST) Lok Sabha constituency located adjoining Mumbai.
Accusing the BJP leadership of neglecting the family, they said, "We have been left to fend for ourselves after our father passed away in New Delhi on January 30."