Political analysts in the city have said the going will be tough for Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) as the party is imprudent in its choice of issues to be highlighted.
Recently, the MNS grabbed headlines for defying the Supreme Court’s order on the Dahi Handi festival with its chief Mr Thackeray encouraging Govinda mandals to break the rules. A day ago, its workers took to selling meat in the markets to protest a ban on its sale.
Political commentator and professor of Mumbai University’s department of politics Dr Surendra Jondhale expressed his reservations about MNS’ ability to make itself politically relevant.
“The MNS is trying to make itself politically relevant, but it is directionless. It is raising issues without understanding them. If the MNS is targeting Marathi voters, then why is Raj Thackeray talking about repealing the Atrocity Act ” he asked, referring to the social demands for scrapping of the SC And the ST (Prevention Of Atrocities) Act, 1989 following the Khopardi rape-murder case.
Dr Jondhale reiterated that it would be tough for MNS to gain ground in the Shiv Sena stronghold. “Shiv Sena already has the support of Marathi voters. BJP is aggressive and enjoys support from north Indians and Gujaratis. Where will MNS will make its inroads ” he asked.
The party has gone on a backfoot since the drubbing it received in the Assembly polls in 2014. It could get just one member elected to the Legislative Assembly, while previously it had 13. The MNS now has 28 corporators in the civic body but even their future is uncertain.
MNS leader Nitin Sardesai has rubbished claims that MNS would struggle during the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. “We had raised the issue of meat ban and protested last year also. BMC polls were not round the corner then. We go by our party line and will continue to raise issues on various platforms,” Mr Sardesai said.
Senior journalist Abhay Deshpande said the party is waiting for some political momentum before the polls and hence, taking up issues such as Kopardi rape case, Dahi Handi and meat ban, among others.
“MNS has suddenly become active which was not so in the last five years. Their target is Marathi votes, but it’s not easy. Marathi people do not vote for MNS as the party has no political future,” Mr Deshpande said.
