A for andolan, B for bandh, C for celeb-bashing - this might just be the way sessions start at an academy set up by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for its workers.

The Maharashtra Samajik Navnirman Academy started by MNS chief Raj Thackeray also teaches political workers how to research subjects and rake up issues, network with the media and be in the national limelight.

Party workers are taught how to systematically research government files, government resolutions of the past and are made aware of relevant legal provisions to ensure they don't make fools of themselves in the public domain whenever they take up an issue.

Academy director Anil Shidore said their main area of focus was research.

"We research issues that the MNS is taking up or planning to take up. Candidates bring their issues here, we go into the background, legal provisions and solutions," said Shidore. "Basically, we give them support to take up issues at a bigger level."

When the MNS began its Marathi boards campaign, it was Shidore's team that studied everything related to the issue and came up with useful details.

"We did the research and found that there was a government resolution dating back to 1961 on boards in Marathi. So we took up the issue at the state level and it was a successful campaign," said Shidore. "Similarly, we have experts from different areas who provide the strong foundation on which issues can stand."

"The academy also teaches candidates how to run a long-stretched, sustained campaign," said Shidore.

But that's not all.

MNS workers who have been a part of these sessions say they have been groomed in various aspects of political life like handling the media and networking with non-governmental organisations.