In the Maharashtra Assembly polls, MNS under Raj Thackeray has caused significant worry for BJP and Shiv Sena (Shinde). The choice of Raj Thackeray’s party to nominate candidates in 25 of the 36 assembly seats in Mumbai has posed a significant challenge for both BJP and Shiv Sena, according to Eknath Shinde. Although MNS had backed the Mahayuti in the Lok Sabha elections.
BJP is competing on 17 seats in Mumbai, whereas Shiv Sena (Shinde) is competing on 16 seats. Raj Thackeray’s party has put forward candidates against the candidates from BJP and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) on a total of 22 seats. The concern for BJP has escalated as a result of this.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is running candidates against 12 seats led by Eknath Shinde in the Shiv Sena and 10 seats contested by the BJP. Raj Thackeray’s MNS did not join the Mahayuti alliance, consisting of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, but it did back the ruling coalition in the recent Lok Sabha elections. MNS can cause issues for the BJP under those circumstances. It will be intriguing to observe how the BJP resolves this issue prior to the upcoming election.
MNS, led by Raj Thackeray, has strategically chosen not to contest against certain prominent BJP leaders in the city. Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar of Colaba, Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar of Bandra West, state BJP treasurer Mihir Kotecha of Mulund, and Mangal Prabhat Lodha of Malabar Hill are among the prominent leaders who are not facing opposition from MNS candidates.
The Maharashtra assembly polls will occur on November 20, with the results for all 288 assembly seats being announced on November 23. During the 2019 assembly elections, BJP secured victory in 105 constituencies, Shiv Sena (Samyukt) in 56, and Congress in 44. The BJP secured 122 seats in 2014, while Shiv Sena won 63 and Congress got 42.