With the MNS facing massive electoral reverses, MNS leaders say Raj has his eyes on the state assembly polls.
"Ae laav re to video" (Play that video).
This line by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray made during his rallies as he "exposes" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "double-speak" on NCP president Sharad Pawar or "false propaganda" about the state's first digital village of Harisal, is one of the defining statements in the Lok Sabha elections as they play out in Maharashtra. Raj, who has not fielded any candidate, has launched a surrogate campaign for the Congress-NCP.
In his rallies, which are inter-spread with audio-visual presentations, Raj calls on people to vote out Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. Though Raj does not specifically seek votes for the Congress-NCP, the drift is clear.
With the MNS facing massive electoral reverses, MNS leaders say Raj has his eyes on the state assembly polls. The MNS hopes to tap into the unease within Shiv Sainiks who are upset after the party made a U-turn by announcing an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party despite its initial decision to contest all polls sans an alliance with the BJP, and targeted it relentlessly. The MNS, which is left with no MLA and just one corporator in the BMC (its sole legislator and six BMC corporators defected to the Sena), hopes to capture some anti-incumbency space.
By campaigning for the Congress-NCP, MNS chief hopes to resurrect the party which has taken a beating in the last few years. The MNS also hopes to gain the support of a section of the Marathi elite, which had ditched it for Modi and the BJP in 2014. To prevent the focus shifting away from his anti-Modi line, Raj has also avoided targeting the Shiv Sena, barring a statement at his Tuesday rally, where he said a vote for the Sena would be an endorsement for the BJP.
"The most important takeaway is, Raj saheb has managed to create space for the party. Regardless of who wins or loses in the Lok Sabha elections, we have managed to rise as an opposition party, which will help us in the assembly," said a senior MNS leader.
However, while his estranged cousin and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had relentlessly attacked Modi but smoked the peace pipe later, Raj too had supported Modi as the Prime Minister in 2014 while putting up candidates against the Shiv Sena and BJP, a stance that cost them heavily.
"However, then the Congress-NCP was in the government. The BJP too has taken support from the NCP at the local level like in Ahmednagar," averred the MNS leader.
A senior Shiv Sena leader admitted that Raj was "more virulent in his criticism than the Congress-NCP and was gradually occupying the opposition space." "However, the MNS would have gained more mileage if they had put up candidates," he added.
The MNS had attempted a seat-adjustment pact with the NCP, which fell through. The party is keeping its powder dry for the assembly elections due later this year, which will be an acid test for the estranged Thackeray cousins.
The Shiv Sena leader added that more than the Sena, the BJP would face the brunt of Raj's campaign. "The Sena and MNS have a common electoral catchment. No supporter of Balasaheb (late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray) will vote for the Congress where the Sena is in the fray. However, some may keep away from voting," he claimed.
Another MNS leader said Raj's support may help the Congress and NCP in seats in Mumbai, Nashik and Thane. "This may be followed with a seat-adjustment, if not an alliance for the assembly," he admitted.
OVER THE YEARS
- 2005: After a power struggle with his cousin and then Shiv Sena working president Uddhav Thackeray, Raj quits the Shiv Sena
- 2006: Formation of the MNS
- 2007: Party fares poorly in the civic polls
- 2008: MNS launches anti-outsider campaign with migrants from Hindi-speaking states in its crosshairs
- 2009: MNS candidates responsible for the defeat of Shiv Sena and BJP candidates in nine of 11 Lok Sabha seats, the party wins 13 assembly segments
- 2012: MNS wins 28 seats in BMC, sweeps Dadar-Mahim belt
- 2014: Due to a series of missteps, MNS wins only one seat in the legislature. It also fields nine candidates for Lok Sabha, all bite the dust
- 2017: Number of MNS corporators in BMC has slipped to seven
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Raj Thackeray")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}