Shiv Sena leaders feel it's a political ploy by BJP to infuse new life into MNS ahead of Assembly polls in state
Following the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summon to Raj Thackeray, several speculations are swirling around in the state's politics. These speculations include questions like if it was a routine probe into a taxation issue or a political ploy to infuse new life into the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) before the state Assembly elections. Or is the BJP looking at snapping ties with the Shiv Sena to contest the polls on its own and hence, trying to boost chances of the rival MNS, which is competing for the same vote base as the Sena?
"Some things are very obvious," said a Raj Thackeray aide, adding that the move had been "planned" with an eye on the state Assembly polls set to be announced next month.
"This is an act of vendetta and an opportunity for our revival," said the MNS leader, whose party has seen a steady political decline and erosion from its ranks. "The resultant sentiment will certainly boost support for us while affecting the chances of the Shiv Sena," he added, speculating if this was a precursor for the BJP and Shiv Sena snapping ties.
The MNS functionary said if the saffron alliance broke, the MNS could use the narrative about Raj being victimised to gain votes, thus affecting Sena's chances in contests which also had the BJP in the fray. "Even if the alliance stays intact, the MNS may gain in Assembly segments where the Shiv Sena is in a direct contest with it. The MNS will obviously grow at Sena's expense," he explained.
Raj has emerged as a trenchant critic of PM Narendra Modi-Amit Shah duo, launching a surrogate campaign for the Congress-NCP during the Lok Sabha polls. This has led MNS leaders to claim that he was being "targeted" for his political position.
History Sheet
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| Raj has emerged as a trenchant critic of PM Narendra Modi-Amit Shah duo, launching a surrogate campaign for the Congress-NCP during the Lok Sabha polls |
| After a series of missteps and tactical errors, the MNS faced severe electoral reverses in 2014 general elections, with all of its nine Lok Sabha candidates losing |
| The MNS also lost all its 13 seats in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, with Sharad Sonawane from Junnar in Pune being the only victor. He, however, shifted to the Shiv Sena before the Lok Sabha elections |
| The party also suffered a major loss of face in the BMC elections, where six of its seven corporators defected to Shiv Sena |
A senior Shiv Sena leader too told DNA that the summon "could be part of a strategy to increase Raj's Thackeray's importance." "I feel the BJP will walk out on us. The BJP seems to be making up its mind," he noted, alluding to the difficulties that the two parties face when it comes to the sharing of seats for the Maharashtra assembly and subsequent power-sharing terms.
For the record, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP and Saamna executive editor Sanjay Raut has claimed that investigation agencies were impartial.
After its anti-migrant campaign in Mumbai and other areas, the MNS fielded 12 candidates across Maharashtra in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. It's presence saw nine nominees of the Shiv Sena and BJP bite the dust against their adversaries from the Congress and NCP. Subsequently, it won 13 Assembly seats, while affecting the chances of the saffron alliance in 53 more.
A senior MNS leader admitted its present brand of politics may have run its course.
"These developments may create a flutter, but may not culminate in a full-blown revival," he said.
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