2006 has drawn to a close, but it has propelled political parties to roll up their sleeves for the civic polls with strategies and meetings.
2006 has drawn to a close, but it has propelled political parties to roll up their sleeves for the civic polls with strategies and meetings in the new year. This year’s elections have thrown up an interesting imponderable — the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.
While debate rages on over the impact Raj Thackeray’s outfit may have on the fate of other parties — at least as far as results are concerned — the fact is the party has shifted into top gear. Even as the Shiv Sena has hired Marathi pop singer Avdhoot Gupte (Tuze dekh ke meri Madhubala fame) to launch its album Shivsena Geet, the MNS has virtually left its rival breathless, hiring singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan to match note-for-note.
Raj Thackeray told DNA that the thrust will be on lyrics tuned to music by Ajay-Atul. The MNS poll album will have one song in Marathi and one in Hindi, said Shweta Parulkar, president, MNS women’s wing. “Towards this, leading artists from Marathi and Hindi film world are helping us,” she added.
Raj ruled out meeting at Shivaji Park, but he said his party would hold more than 20 public meetings across the city. In an oblique reference to the Sena, he said, “Parties, which have only one leader have chosen Shivaji Park. But I will be addressing more than 50 public meetings in state.” Raj said he would desist from personal attacks and would instead focus on development.
“I personally do not believe in hi-tech campaigns, which only end up irritating voters. But our party will use modern methods and hold regular media briefings. Our tour programme will be finalised shortly. We will soon announce our list of candidates,” he added.
On Monday, former Sena corporator Ramkrishna Keni and Union wing leader Arun Betkekar joined MNS. Acknowledging the saffron exodus to his party, the MNS president stated, “Those who are joining my party will not be given tickets straightaway. We will check out their past record as well as their clout in the delimited ward,” he claimed.
“I’m not merely concentrating on Mumbai, but rest of the civic bodies as well, for which I would actively campaign,” he added. Meanwhile, the party will soon write a letter to state Election Commissioner Nand Lal, urging him to hike election expenditure amount from the existing Rs1 lakh. “It is too less,” said Shishir Shinde.
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