MNS likely to contest in 80-100 seats in Maharashtra polls

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has finally decided to take the poll plunge, the development came after a meeting of party leaders on Friday called by chief Raj Thackeray. The MNS is expected to contest around 80 to 100 seats.

The development is significant as Raj was not keen on contesting the assembly polls in Maharashtra and had called for a boycott of the assembly polls till the Election Commission agreed to conduct the assembly polls in the state with ballot papers instead of EVM machines. Raj had met NCP Chief Sharad Pawar and other opposition leaders with the idea of a boycott of the assembly polls claiming that the polls held under EVM machines were managed to favour the BJP. However other opposition parties in the state were not keen to boycott the polls.

Raj was willing to sit out of the polls; however there was pressure within the party as many leaders wanted to contest the polls. The MNS chief had got feelers from within the party that the decision to not contest polls could demoralize the cadres. There was talks within the party that those who wanted to contest the polls would either seek tickets from the Shiv Sena or contest independently if the party does not fight the polls.