Be Ready to Contest 225-250 Seats in Maharashtra Assembly Polls: Raj Thackeray to MNS Workers

Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) supremo Raj Thackeray has directed party workers to gear up for contesting between 225 to 250 seats out of the 288 in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, slated to be held later this year. Following a strategic meeting, senior party leader Bala Nandgaonkar briefed reporters that MNS officials would conduct visits across various regions of the state to assess election readiness and provide feedback to Thackeray.

During the Lok Sabha elections, the MNS extended its support to the BJP-led NDA, with Thackeray actively campaigning despite his party not participating directly.

"We have historically contested elections independently," Nandgaonkar affirmed when asked about potential alliances with the ruling Mahayuti coalition (comprising BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP). "However, preparations are underway, and future developments will determine our course," he added, emphasizing the party's focus on electoral expansion.

Established in 2006, MNS made its assembly debut in 2009, securing 13 seats. Subsequent performances in the 2014 and 2019 state polls were modest, with the party clinching only one seat each time.

Another party leader, Sandeep Deshpande, highlighted Thackeray's observation that the Opposition's Maha Vikas Aghadi, dominated by Shiv Sena (UBT), garnered anti-Narendra Modi votes in Muslim-majority areas but lacked significant support in Marathi-speaking regions. This sentiment, Deshpande suggested, could potentially sway votes towards MNS.

What Happened in 2019 Maharashtra Assembly Polls?

In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single largest party with 105 seats out of 288, followed by its ally Shiv Sena with 56 seats. However, disagreements over power-sharing and the chief ministerial post led to a prolonged deadlock between the two parties. Amidst this impasse, the Shiv Sena, after decades of alliance with the BJP, unexpectedly formed a coalition with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Indian National Congress. The alliance, known as the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), garnered enough seats to stake a claim to form the government. Eventually, Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena became the Chief Minister.