As the Maharashtra Assembly elections approach, political parties are intensifying their preparations, and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is making its moves. On Monday, MNS chief Raj Thackeray announced the first two candidates from his party: Bala Nandgaonkar for Mumbai’s Shivadi assembly constituency and Dilip Dhotre for Pandharpur constituency.
Thackeray has declared that the MNS will contest the elections independently, without forming any alliances with other political parties. This decision comes after his party’s unconditional support to the Mahayuti coalition (comprising the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar-led NCP, and BJP) in the recent Lok Sabha elections. Thackeray had urged MNS workers to gear up for the state assembly polls, signaling a clear strategy for the upcoming elections.
Notably, there was speculation that Bala Nandgaonkar would be fielded from the South Mumbai seat for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, the Mahayuti coalition’s late decision to field sitting Byculla MLA Yamini Jadhav resulted in a loss for the coalition, with the South Mumbai seat going to sitting MP Arvind Sawant from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.
Looking ahead, reports indicate that the MNS plans to field candidates in 255 of Maharashtra’s 288 constituencies. Raj Thackeray has already embarked on a state-wide tour to galvanize party support and energize the ground-level workers. One of the key constituencies to watch is Mumbai’s Worli, currently represented by Aaditya Thackeray. The MNS is expected to field Sandeep Deshpande in this high-profile seat, as the opposition aims to challenge the ruling MVA’s dominance in the area.
In a strategic move, Thackeray recently met with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to discuss issues affecting Worli. Following their discussion, Shinde instructed officials to prioritize resolving concerns in the constituency, as confirmed by the Chief Minister’s Office.
MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande has been actively engaging with Worli residents, addressing their concerns and campaigning vigorously. The areas of Worli, Dadar, and Wadala, historically dominated by Shiv Sena and MNS, are expected to be fiercely contested.
With the MNS positioning itself as a major player in the upcoming elections and Thackeray’s strategic maneuvers to address key issues, the stage is set for an intense political battle in Maharashtra. For updates on the MNS’s campaign and other election-related news, stay tuned.
