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What is Raj Thackeray doing these days?

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Ever wondered what firebrand 'Marathi Manoos' leader Raj Thackeray is doing after his Maharashtra Navnirman Sena was put to rout in the assembly elections?

Thackeray is receiving and replying to emails these days, literally.

One of the 'most unapproachable' politician, who was apparently even unreachable to his own party functionaries till recently, is seeking to connect with the commoners and followers 'personally' through ConnectRajThackeray@gmail.com, which he launched a month ago.

The response has been an overwhelming. In the first two days, he got 3,000 emails which has touched to 10,000, a testimony to his popularity, say MNS sources.

"He is getting hundreds of emails every day. He is responding to them personally. At least 1,000 emails have been answered by him so far," said Sachin More, party spokesperson.

The emails include requests to meet him, suggestions for strengthening the party and even complaints against civic officials in Mumbai, Thane and Kalyan-Dombivali. Apart from responding, he is addressing some of the civic issues, said party workers.

"Recently, party leaders of Thane unit mobilised team members to clean up Charai area after a certain Gaurav Pradhan wrote to Raj Thackeray about it. There was a well that was being used as a garbage dump for past four to five years and the Thane Municipal Corporation had failed to clear the mess despite several requests," said Abhijit Panse, filmmaker and MNS leader.

In his bid to win back followers, Thackeray even visited Kalyan-Dombivli, Nashik, Pune and Aurangabad, spending a few days at each place and listening to his supporters and the public.

"I had done many rounds to meet him at his Mumbai home in past two years but in vain. Like me, many supporters went through same ordeal. Good that he is trying to change things now," said an MNS supporter, who recently met Thackeray in Kalyan.

An MNS leader said, "Raj used to mingle with everyone while he was in Shiv Sena but he slowly became unapproachable after he launched his own party, may be due to bigger responsibilities. This cost him dear. He has the potential but is clueless about taking everyone with him and keep pace with the changing times."

A leader from the party's students wing said Thackeray is now more open to meeting MNS cadres. "Many of us met with him recently and clicked photographs as well, which was very unusual earlier."

More, however, denied that his boss was unapproachable before or the exercise has anything to do with shedding that image. "It was not possible for Saheb to meet those who came without appointments. Sometimes, he was out of town but people, who turned up at his home, believed that he was inside because of police security at the gate," said More.

Thackeray was unavailable for comments. More said, "He has back to back meetings today."

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