Raj Thackeray, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader, gave a strong threat on Sunday, indicating that the coming elections of the Mumbai civic body might be the only opportunity the Marathi manoos have to save their identity. In his speech at the opening of the MNS Konkan Mahotsav held at Mumbai, Thackeray encouraged party workers not to become complacent with the political climax.
Caution, or the defeat is at hand. The BMC elections that are yet to be elected are the last elections of the Marathi manoos unless you are on guard. And the effects would be unmanageable, said Thackeray, as reported by news agencies. His words represent the historic anxieties regarding the population and political changes in Mumbai, a metropolis in which the MNS has always established itself as the protector of the Marathi rights and culture.
Thackeray has recently taken the stand against the supposed discrepancies in the list of voters in the city and even participated in a concerted protest march led by the Opposition leaders to make the discrepancies known. The position that he has taken has given further impetus to the story of the Opposition, just before the decisive municipal elections.
At the same time, Maharashtra Congress seems to be torn as to whether it should ally with the MNS in the next local body polls. A senior leader of Congress, Vijay Wadettiwar, indicated his approval of the single Opposition strategy citing the request by the NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar that the wider unity be concluded in opposition to the BJP. Finally, there is the issue of ideology. We are hopeful about the united struggle, which will involve the MNS. All people should unite to get rid of the BJP, Wadettiwar said.
Nevertheless, Mumbai Congress president and MP Varsha Gaikwad held a very strong position as concerning collaboration with the party of Raj Thackeray, which indicates internal disagreements among the state unit. Once again, she stated that the party would not go along with the MNS in Mumbai.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates
Click Here for Chhattisgarh News
Click Here for Entertainment News