Corporators have not taken the warning issued by Raj Thackeray seriously and have joined BJP for better career prospects.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) which had once given tough competition to Shiv Sena seems to be losing its foothold in the state. Despite strong warning issued by MNS Chief Raj Thackeray to corporators against shifting loyalties two members have already joined BJP. On Saturday, Prakash Darekar — MNS corporator from Dahisar and Sukhada Pawar joined BJP. Corporators have taken this decision as they are unhappy with Raj’s centralised leadership system and find their future bleak in the party. Since the 2017 Brihanmumbai Municipal elections is just a year away many of them are eyeing tickets to contest election from BJP. Their morale has taken a beating ever since the MNS received a severe jolt in the 2014 assembly polls as the party had managed to win only a single seat. Thus corporators have not taken the warning issued by Raj Thackeray seriously and have joined rival party for better career prospects.
According to sources from MNS, “Earlier Raj had managed to draw youth into his party by promising better career opportunities and lucrative positions within the outfit. However youth too have distanced themselves from MNS as Raj has failed to give a proper direction to the party’s development. Already many corporators have deserted the party in Nashik.”
Political analysts have said that MNS party is centred around Raj Thackeray and he has failed to develop the party at the grassroots level. Party workers are also confused by the stand taken by Raj on several issues of political significance. He should now think about decentralisation of power and develop a strong second rung leadership to revive the party. Moreover, the party is focussed too much on Mumbai and has not expanded into interior regions of Maharashtra.
“Earlier people had written off Shiv Sena after the demise of Bal Thackeray. But Uddhav Thackeray has revived the party and it has performed well in the assembly election. Even Raj too needs to motivate his party workers who can make or break the party,” said another source.
Addressing the corporators, Raj had said, “If you have any problems with some of the leaders or with the workers in the party, I am here to look in to it. But leaving the party is not a solution. This will give you temporary relief. Seriously think over it”.
After making appeal, the MNS chief changed his tone and said, “Till now I have followed too much of democracy in the party. Please don’t force me to revert to my original aggressive stance.”
Two years back Ram Kadam had quit MNS to join BJP as he felt that he was sidelined within the party. Even Pravin Darekar has switched loyalties towards BJP.
