The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena will not be contesting Lok Sabha polls but is expected to campaign Raj Thackeray for Congress-NCP in Maharashtra. MNS President Raj Thackeray won’t be sharing the stage with Congress but will hold rallies in western Maharashtra and Marathwada. He will be aggressively campaigning for ensuring the defeat of Shiv Sena-BJP in the state. Raj will be addressing six rallies in support of Sushilkumar Shinde (Sholapur), Supriya Sule (Baramati), Sameer Bhujbal (Nashik), Ashok Chavan (Nanded) and Ajit Pawar’s son Parth (Maval). He is also expected to campaign in Mumbai for Priya Dutt (Mumbai North Central), Urmila Matondkar (Mumbai North), Milind Deora (Mumbai South), and NCP’s Sanjay Dina Patil (Mumbai North East).
MNS General Secretary Shalini Thackeray said, “The incumbent government is dangerous for the country and it is necessary to oust them. If any party derives benefit out of this motto, then let it happen.”
Raj Thackeray has already instructed his party workers to support Congress-NCP. The talks are doing rounds whether the support from MNS can enable Congress-NCP to attract and secure the Marathi voters in the state. Thus, it is looked upon as that Raj Thackeray will be the star campaigner for Congress-NCP this poll season. Congress-NCP, which had suffered a massive defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, is eyeing a comeback in the state. Marathi votes will play a decisive role in the state politics. In return, as per reports, MNS expects Congress-NCP combine to give it some seats in the assembly election scheduled to be held later this year. The Congress-NCP is using MNS to cut the votes of Shiv-Sena-BJP.
Shiv Sena MLA Anil Parab said, “The question which arises is whether Marathi votes are under the control of MNS. No candidate from MNS is contesting the election, so, what will they say to people. Will MNS ask people to vote for Congress which has always opposed it? People who vote for MNS won’t vote for Congress. People who are unhappy with Congress, have joined MNS. Sena and Congress voters are aware that the latter has not done anything for the welfare of the Marathi voters.”
The MNS has no representation in the state assembly and has a single corporator in the BMC. Despite this, reportedly both Congress and NCP are relying on MNS to lure the Marathi voters who are considered as the party’s major vote bank. Through this act, MNS is trying to revive itself in the state. At a public meeting in Shivaji Park on the occasion of Gudi Padwa, Raj Thackeray took potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said, “PM Narendra Modi is another Adolf Hitler. On the occasion of Gudi Padwa, I wish Modi-Mukt Bharat year ahead.” Thus, it seems quite evident that MNS is aggressively campaigning for the defeat of Shiv Sena-BJP.
Minister of State for Home Dr. Ranjit Patil said, “In a democracy, a candidate campaign for his/her own political party. This is the first time that I have seen a leader like Raj Thackeray campaigning for other party and it makes any difference to neither Shiv Sena-BJP nor RPI.”
Raj also backed Rahul Gandhi for the prime ministerial post in the public meeting and said, “We tried Modi, but he was disastrous. Let Rahul Gandhi become PM and let us see. If the country is fortunate enough he may just do a good job.”
Senior Congress leader Suresh Shetty said, “Raj Thackeray has delivered a good speech but we will have to see how it translates into the vote. Then only we can say whether Raj Thackeray’s campaigning has made any difference.”
Raj Thackeray had quit Shiv Sena to form MNS in 2006. The party follows the motto of working for sons of the soil. The MNS had surprised everyone by winning 13 assembly seats out of 288 in Maharashtra. The party didn’t contest 2014 Lok Sabha polls and fared badly in the assembly polls by winning a single seat. In the 2017 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Election, the tally of MNS was reduced to 7 seats. In October 2017, 6 councilors quit the party to join Shiv Sena taking its representation in the civic body to 1. In September 2014, the MNS released its first look of Maharashtra’s Development Blueprint with a slogan “Yes, it’s possible”.
By Suraj Chandran and Moumita Mukherjee
