MNS pulls out, likely to put weight behind NCP

According to MNS leaders, Thackeray will announce support to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and will campaign extensively against the Narendra Modi-led BJP government

The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Sunday finally announced that it would not contest the Lok Sabha elections. Although the official statement released did not specify whom it would support, it stated that Thackeray will explain his stance on Tuesday in his address to MNS workers.

MNS chief Raj Thackeray (HT)

According to MNS leaders, Thackeray will announce support to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and will campaign extensively against the Narendra Modi-led BJP central government.

Political observers pointed out that Thackeray, who still enjoys clout among the electorate ,will target the unrest against the Modi government and also tap into the discontent among Maharashtrians upset with the Shiv Sena for tying up with BJP.

A top MNS leader said it was a practical decision. “ We do not have the resources to contest the polls, both in terms of funding and manpower. We would have been wiped out, thus affecting our prospects in the Assembly polls,” said the leader. “As our focus is the Assembly elections, Rajsaheb has worked out an understanding with the NCP, where we will be left some seats in the Assembly polls,” he added.

The MNS enjoys clout in places like Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Pune and Nashik. There are some 25 assembly seats where the MNS wields considerable influence and have the potential to tilt the final results.

Although the NCP wanted Thackeray to become a part of its grand alliance and were willing to spare him two seats, this was opposed by the Congress on the ground that Raj is seen as a villain by North Indians for his anti-migrant stance, which will disturb their vote bank. “We did help the MNS indirectly in 2009, but we cannot be seen openly siding with the latter as it will affect our North Indian vote bank in the state. Being a pan-India party, we will face an embarrassing situation in North Indian states,” said a Congress leader, who did not want to be quoted.

Political observers said that NCP chief Sharad Pawar plans to use Raj’s charisma for his benefit. “Raj Thackeray is a powerful orator who enjoys widespread appeal among the youth in urban pockets. He still has the potential to exploit the underlying discontent against the Modi government, thus benefitting Opposition parties. He will attack the Sena for its opportunistic alliance, saying despite attacking the BJP for five years, they have still tied up with them,” said political analyst Surendra Jondhale.

Similar is the stance of noted political analyst Prakash Bal. “There is tremendous anger among Maharashtrians for the U-turn done by the Sena and this section will be targeted by Raj,” said Bal.

Right from the 2014 results, Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had attacked the BJP-led governments, both at the Centre and state, despite sharing power.

Last year, he even declared that there would be no more alliance with the BJP and the Sena would chart its own path. However, last month, Sena declared that they would ally with the BJP in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

For the MNS, it has been a downhill journey. In the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, it polled 4.6% of the total votes, which dipped to 1.47 % in the 2014 elections. Although the MNS drew a blank in both the elections, it played a crucial role in splitting BJP-Sena votes in 2009, helping the Congress-NCP win. However, in 2014, it could play no such major role and was completely wiped out. Even in the 2014 Assembly elections, it was able to win only one seat, but even that legislator Sharad Sonawane has defected to the Sena.