In a strategic move ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is likely to field Amit Thackeray, son of party chief Raj Thackeray, from two key constituencies—Mahim and Bhandup West. Both seats are being eyed by the MNS after the party conducted surveys to gauge public sentiment in these regions.
Currently, Mahim is represented by Shiv Sena MLA Sada Sarvankar from the Eknath Shinde-led faction, while Bhandup West is held by Ramesh Korgaonkar of Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT). The prospect of Amit Thackeray entering the fray from Mahim has prompted speculation that UBT may refrain from fielding a candidate in the constituency. This decision would mirror the 2019 assembly elections when MNS chose not to contest the Worli seat, allowing Uddhav Thackeray’s son Aaditya Thackeray to run without competition from MNS.
Amit Thackeray’s potential candidacy is further bolstered by the results of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where MNS support helped Mahayuti candidate Rahul Shewale secure a lead of approximately 14,000 votes in the Mahim assembly segment. The MNS views this as a signal that Mahim could be a secure seat for Amit, considering the party’s local influence.
In a parallel development, Maharashtra’s Chief Electoral Officer has ramped up efforts to combat misinformation ahead of the polls. The election body has issued notices to several social media platforms under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, requesting the removal of 1,752 posts flagged for containing fake news or misleading content intended to confuse voters. Over 300 posts have already been deleted following the intervention.
“Facebook has deleted 16 posts, Instagram has taken down 29, X (formerly Twitter) has removed 251, and YouTube has deleted five posts,” according to an official statement issued on Friday. The majority of the flagged posts—1,296—were found on X, followed by Instagram and Facebook, which had 280 and 143 objectionable posts, respectively.
The Assembly elections in Maharashtra are scheduled for November 20, and as the state gears up for a highly contested election, the MNS’s moves, particularly involving Amit Thackeray, could prove decisive in the overall political landscape.