To Counter Uddhav Thackeray, BJP Woos Raj Thackeray’s MNS

Mumbai: The BJP is making efforts to resurrect Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) from political oblivion to counter Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.

According to reports, Raj Thackeray reached Delhi on Monday night and met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss the possible entry of MNS into the NDA.

The MNS,  wants three seats – South Mumbai, Shirdi and Nashik, as part of the tie-up with the NDA.

The BJP knows that to counter the Uddhav Thackeray factor in Maharashtra, it has reached out to his cousin Raj.

Founded in 2006, the MNS won 13 seats in 2009 Assembly polls in Maharashtra. In the 2014 elections, it won just one seat. In the 2019 polls, too, its tally remained unchanged.

If the seat-sharing talks with the BJP are finalised, the MNS may get a chance to revive its political fortunes.