MNS is on track

The election results of the 10 state civic corporations proved to be a mixed bag for the one-and-half-year-old MNS. Though the MNS engine did not reach the destination with a roar, political analysts say it is on the right track as the party now has 35 corporators in corporations across the state. 

While there were no celebrations outside MNS president Raj Thackeray’s house in Shivaji Park on Friday, the mood was not gloomy. Talking to the media, Raj was quick to attribute the BJP-Shiv Sena victory in Mumbai to Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray.

“This victory belongs to Balasaheb and the Sainiks and no one else should take credit for the same,” said Raj taking a dig at his cousin and Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray. The MNS chief said that he was happy with his party performance.

“Within 10 months of running a party, we faced polls and I’m glad with the response we got from the electors,” he said. Significantly, the two ex-Sena corporators who had switched loyalties to MNS - Rajendra Lad (ward 163) and Shailaja Lande (ward no 154) came victorious in Mumbai.

Initial trends showed the party would make significant dent in the traditional Sena votebank, but it did not do in the final analysis. Even the high voter turnout in cities like Thane, Nasik and Nagpur largely favoured the Shiv Sena and the BJP. In fact, MNS ate into the secular vote.

“I’ve not formed my party to destroy or eat into any votes. I know my goals and we will approach them in the near future,” said Raj.