Mumbai: Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Sunday announced that it will not be contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
A statement issued by MNS leader Shirish Sawant made the announcement, stating, “We will talk more on March 19.” This indicates that party chief Raj Thackeray will be conducting campaign rallies to push his anti-Modi stand throughout the election season.
According to reports, the NCP was interested in including the MNS in the alliance and was even ready to offer it one of the two Lok Sabha seats. NCP leader Ajit Pawar and Raj Thackeray had held a meeting last month to finalise the seats. However, nothing came out of it.
Meanwhile, sources have claimed that the Congress is apprehensive regarding joining hands with the MNS as it would affect the party’s image in northern states as the MNS has been involved in attacks against north Indians and migrant population in Maharashtra.
Congress leaders, including its Mumbai president Sanjay Nirupam and Maharashtra president Ashok Chavan, have opposed the idea of joining hands with the MNS. “We have already clarified that we cannot take the MNS along with us in the alliance. We do not approve its stand on certain issues,” Chavan had said.
Reports also state that Raj Thackeray will campaign and hold rallies in strategic constituencies where he is guaranteed to influence a
However, MNS bowing out of the 2019 election comes as a major setback for the opposition as it will prevent the division of anti-BJP votes in Maharashtra.
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Ms Kalinga