The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र नवनिर्माण सेना) is a Maharashtrian Nationalist party based in Maharashtra and operates on the motto of "Sons of the Soil". It was founded on 9 March 2006 in Mumbai by Raj Thackeray after he left the Shiv Sena party due to differences with his paternal cousin Uddhav Thackeray and to his sidelining by the Shiv Sena in major decisions like distribution of election tickets.