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New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray throughout a gathering, in New Delhi, Tuesday, March 19, 2024. (Photo: PTI)
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and later held discussions with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Vinod Tawde right here on Tuesday to discover the opportunity of his get together becoming a member of the ‘Mahayuti’ alliance in Maharashtra.
The Mahayuti alliance at the moment contains three constituents: the BJP, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The alliance is ready to announce its seat-sharing system for Maharashtra’s 48 Lok Sabha (LS) seats later this week.
The MNS becoming a member of the alliance may assist it with a ‘Thackeray versus Thackeray’ narrative, fielding Raj Thackeray, an articulate speaker, to tackle his cousin, Uddhav-led Shiv Sena (UBT). The Sena (UBT) is a constituent of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).
In 2019, the BJP contested 25 seats and the undivided Sena 23 seats in Maharashtra, successful 23 and 18 seats, respectively. In that election, Raj Thackeray addressed a number of well-attended public conferences to criticise Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP, and championed the Congress-NCP alliance.
Raj Thackeray met Shah together with Tawde. He can also be scheduled to fulfill Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar, and Shinde earlier than an official announcement is made. The MNS may contest a seat in Mumbai as a part of the alliance, sources mentioned.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav accused the BJP of attempting to “steal” a “Thackeray” and applicable Bal Thackeray’s legacy to win elections. He mentioned the BJP knew that solely Bal Thackeray’s title, and never that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would get them votes in Maharashtra.
“First, they stole the photo of Bal Thackeray, but it doesn’t matter. Today, they are trying to steal another Thackeray,” Uddhav mentioned in Nanded, concluding his two-day tour of Nanded and Hingoli districts within the Marathwada area.
Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal mentioned Raj Thackeray-led MNS would strengthen the ‘Mahayuti’ for the LS, Maharashtra Assembly polls, scheduled for later this yr, and the civic elections.
Raj Thackeray based the MNS in 2006. However, the get together has struggled to make any vital electoral impression up to now 18 years. His remarks towards North Indians have been criticised by most political events, together with the BJP.
In the 2009 Assembly polls, the MNS received 13 seats within the 288-member legislative Assembly. In the 2019 Assembly polls, the MNS may win just one seat.
Earlier this month, the BJP introduced 20 candidates in Maharashtra in its second record of candidates.
First Published: Mar 19 2024 | 10:03 PM IST
