Raj's Sena marks its presence in civic polls
Raj Thackeray’s nascent political outfit, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, has pulled off a surprise victory in the recently-concluded municipal council elections across the state.
By TNN |
MUMBAI: Raj Thackeray’s nascent political outfit, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, has pulled off a surprise victory in the recently-concluded municipal council elections across the state.
The MNS has bagged 28 seats and is in a position to wrest power from its arch rival Shiv Sena in Khed municipal council, causing huge embarrassment to Ramdas Kadam of the Sena, who hails from the city.
Jolted by the poll outcome, Mr Kadam has expressed his desire to step down and in true Sena spirit, submitted his resignation to the party chief, Bal Thackeray. Congratulating the successful candidates, MNS chief Raj Thackeray said, “We have opened the account, and soon we will convert it into full-fledged banks.” The MNS walked away with seats in Aurangabad, Nasik, Dhule, Raigad, Buldhana, Ratnagiri, Nagpur, Latur and Akola councils.
Though it’s way behind the Congress that bagged 896 seats, the MNS’ victory may upset existing political equations. The MNS, it’s believed, may grow at the cost of the Shiv Sena, which failed to make any major inroads during the elections. The Sena took home 354 seats, followed by the BJP with a tally of 294.
The election has pitted the Congress against the NCP which scored victory with 832 seats. This verdict may force both to think of separate arrangements for the upcoming municipal corporation polls. A section of the NCP has been opposing any truck with the Congress in the municipal elections.
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Welcoming the results of municipal polls, Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh said the electorate had stamped its approval on the government’s urban development policies. “The DF government has stressed on urbanisation, and due to the implementation of Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission and low-cost housing initiatives for the poor, people have voted in large numbers for the Congress and the policies of the DF government,” Mr Deshmukh said in an official release.
He exuded confidence that the party would sustain its performance in the forthcoming elections to municipal corporations and zilla parishads. When pointed out that the NCP had also performed well in the polls, a Congress spokesperson said the polls “were swept by parties with Congress ideology”.
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