In What is being seen as the first major jolt to Raj Thackeray, one of his close confidantes Shweta Parulkar quit the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and joined the Shiv Sena on Thursday.

The former chief of the MNS women’s wing, Parulkar had expressed her unhappiness over the dismissal of the executive committee of the wing last month.

Raj had, in a sudden move, announced the dissolution of the Labour and Women’s wings of the party saying that new leaders should be given a chance and reshuffling in the party was due after three years.

“The most disappointing part of the entire thing is that I was not contacted even after I expressed my dissent. I was not called by Raj nor got to meet him. I was extremely dissatisfied with the working in the party,” said Parulkar, adding that she had joined the Sena and wanted to work according to the directives of Sena chief Bal Thackeray.

Parulkar had earlier submitted her resignation to Raj Thackeray, following which she met Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray at his residence in suburban Bandra.

Some within the MNS seemed relieved over her exit as she had ignited the first revolt against Raj. Her continuation in the party could have created an undercurrent of dissent ahead of the crucial state Assembly elections, they felt.

Sena leaders said that Parulkar’s joining the party was just a beginning and claimed that many more leaders from the MNS were in touch with them.