Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has instructed party workers to prepare for contesting 225-250 out of the 288 seats in the forthcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. During a meeting in Mumbai, senior party leader Bala Nandgaonkar informed reporters about the preparations.
Election Preparations Underway
Nandgaonkar stated that MNS functionaries will travel across the state and report back to Thackeray on the election readiness. The MNS had previously supported the BJP-led NDA during the Lok Sabha elections, with Thackeray actively campaigning for the alliance, despite MNS not contesting.
Alliance Considerations
When asked about potential alliances, Nandgaonkar said, “We are not holding any discussions right now. And with whom we are going to hold talks?” Historically, MNS has contested elections independently and will evaluate alliances as needed. The party’s performance saw a decline from 13 seats in 2009 to just one seat in both 2014 and 2019.
Electoral Strategy
Another party leader, Sandeep Deshpande, shared Thackeray’s insights that the Opposition’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) garnered anti-Narendra Modi votes in Muslim-dominated areas but lacked support in Marathi-speaking regions. Thackeray implied that MNS could attract votes from Marathi-speakers dissatisfied with Uddhav Thackeray’s alliances with Congress and NCP.
Historical Context
The MNS, established in 2006, saw initial success in the 2009 assembly elections, securing 13 seats. However, the party’s influence diminished in subsequent elections. Thackeray’s recent directive aims to revitalize the party’s influence in Maharashtra politics.
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