MUMBAI, June 21: The State Bank Karmachari Sena (SBKS), a new outfit blessed by the Sena chief Bal Thackeray, today issued a press release claiming it was now pitted against the recognised union, which is ``raising a hue and cry'' over the entry of the SBKS in the State Bank of India.

The recognised union, the State Bank of India Staff Union, is also a Sena union, and has been nurtured by the Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti, a powerful umbrella organisation of workers.

The SBI Staff Union (SBI-SU), it now seems, will have to guard its turf, since the new outfit is blessed by the Sena chief. The inauguration of the SBKS is to be held in Dadar on Tuesday by youth leaders Uddhav and Raj Thackeray.

The recognised union (SBI-SU) had fought a prolonged battle till they ousted a non-political group led by union leader Charles Coutou, in 1979. Since then, the Sena-sponsored SBI-SU flourished under the leadership of its leaders Vithal Chavan and Manohar Rane.

Senior minister Sudhir Joshi was also associated with it until recently.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.