Raj Thackeray-led MNS struggling to convince voters that it can deliver results

MUMBAI: Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena ( MNS), which held a lot of promise during the 2009 assembly polls and won 13 seats in its debut performance, now seems to be struggling to hold itself together and convince voters that it can deliver results. The party performed poorly during the last LS polls with not a single win. Questions are being raised about what impact Raj would be able to achieve in the upcoming Maharashtra elections.

The MNS now seems riddled with confusion about its political alignment and about what major issues to take up in the state. It is also facing defections. Just two days ago, Ram Kadam, one of the most high profile MLAs from the MNS who got elected from Mumbai’s Ghatkopar constituency, announced that he was joining the BJP. In fact, dozens of MNS leaders have crossed over to the Shiv Sena or the BJP.

Of the 13 MNS MLAs, one from Pune, Ramesh Wangle, died of heart attack. Aurangabad MLA Harshawardhan Jadhav left the party in 2013, while Kadam has moved to the BJP now. Most other MLAs too aren’t very comfortable in the party, claim some MNS insiders. “I will be able to serve people better if I am part of the BJP. I had some discussions with the party leadership and then decided to cross over,” Kadam said.

Just over a week ago, delivering a blow to Raj, the BJP decided to break its two-and-half-year alliance with the MNS in the Nashik Municipal Corporation and support Shiv Sena’s candidate in the mayoral polls.