Raj Thackeray arrived in Delhi last night and met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah today.
It’s the season of political alliances and reshuffles, as parties gear up for the Lok Sabha elections. Not only are former allies reuniting with the BJP, like Nitish Kumar”s JDU in Bihar and Chandrababu Naidu”s TDP in Andhra Pradesh, but also erstwhile critics, such as Jayant Chaudhary”s RLD in Uttar Pradesh, have caught attention by aligning with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Now speculation is rife regarding the potential inclusion of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) into the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The BJP”s concerted effort to maximise its Lok Sabha seat count in Maharashtra can also resurrect the MNS from political obscurity. It will also help the BJP counter the challenge posed by the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena by joining hands with his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray.
Even though Raj Thackeray is recognized as a compelling orator with a dedicated following, he has struggled to leave a significant imprint on the political landscape. His MNS lacks representation in the form of MLAs or MPs in Maharashtra. However, the BJP aims to leverage the MNS”s influence to sway Marathi-speaking support bases in key urban centers like Mumbai, Thane, Pune, and Nashik.
Raj Thackeray and his son arrived in Delhi last night and met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah today, reportedly to deliberate on their party”s NDA entry. “I was summoned to Delhi, so I came. Let”s wait and see,” remarked the MNS chief upon his arrival in the national capital.
Meanwhile, MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande has assured that details of the meeting will be disclosed shortly, adding that any decision made will prioritise the welfare of Marathis, uphold Hindutva principles, and serve the party”s interests.
Reports suggest that the MNS is angling for three specific seats – South Mumbai, Shirdi, and Nashik – as part of the prospective alliance.
The political landscape of Maharashtra has undergone significant changes since the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. During that election, the BJP and the Shiv Sena formed a formidable alliance and swept the polls, securing 41 out of the state”s 48 seats. However, disagreements over power-sharing led to the Sena”s departure from the NDA.
Subsequently, the Shiv Sena, under Uddhav Thackeray”s leadership, forged an alliance with the NCP and the Congress to form the government. This alliance, however, faced internal turmoil when Sena leader Eknath Shinde orchestrated a mutiny in 2022, resulting in the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray government. Shinde then aligned with the BJP and became the chief minister. The lost legal battle over the party”s name and symbol led to the formation of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray).
Similarly, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP experienced a split following a rebellion led by his nephew Ajit Pawar. As a result, Sharad Pawar”s faction now operates under the name NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).
What began as a straightforward contest in 2019 has evolved into a multiplayer battle, with the BJP, NCP, and Shiv Sena aligned against the Congress and factions led by Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray.
Thackeray”s history of contentious remarks, particularly those targeting North Indians, has previously drawn sharp rebukes from leaders across the political spectrum, including the BJP.
However, understanding the complexity of this political terrain at the moment, the BJP is leaving nothing to chance in Maharashtra, a state critical to its target of securing 370 Lok Sabha seats. To counter the influence of Uddhav Thackeray, the BJP has extended an olive branch to his cousin Raj Thackeray.
Founded in 2006 after Raj Thackeray”s departure from the Shiv Sena due to differences with Uddhav, the MNS experienced electoral success in the 2009 Assembly polls, winning 13 seats. However, its fortunes declined in subsequent elections, with the party winning just one seat in the 2014 polls and maintaining the same tally in 2019.
Over the past decade, Raj Thackeray has navigated a tumultuous path in the political arena, often making headlines with his controversial remarks in the media. Following the split within the Shiv Sena, he launched scathing attacks against his estranged cousin, holding him responsible for the party”s internal turmoil. Raj Thackeray also cultivated a relationship with Eknath Shinde, engaging in multiple meetings with the Maharashtra minister.
The prospect of the MNS aligning with the BJP has stirred significant interest. Sudhir Mungantiwar, a minister in Maharashtra and a prominent BJP leader, said that such an alliance would serve the interests of Hindutva, the state, and the nation.
This political development unfolded shortly after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde affirmed that the MahaYuti and the long-standing MNS share common ground on Hindutva principles, hinting at the possibility of their inclusion within the NDA.
Should the alliance materialize, it is anticipated that the MNS might secure at least one seat to contest from Mumbai, where the Shiv Sena faction led by his cousin, Uddhav Thackeray, wields considerable influence.
Supriya Sule, the Working President of the Nationalist Congress Party (SP), stated that if the MNS chooses to align with the opposition”s INDIA bloc, it will be “welcomed and and respected in the Aghadi…”.
