The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is likely to release its first list of candidates for the upcoming assembly elections on Tuesday. The list is expected to cover key constituencies in Mumbai, Pune, Thane, and Nashik districts, sparking interest in whether Raj Thackeray’s son, Amit Thackeray, will make his political debut.
A crucial meeting was held on Monday, led by MNS chief Raj Thackeray, where party leaders finalised the candidates after reviewing reports from constituency observers. The discussions revolved around fielding strong candidates in winnable constituencies. In particular, attention is on the possibility of Amit Thackeray contesting from the Mahim constituency. However, the final decision on this matter rests with Raj Thackeray.
The potential inclusion of Amit Thackeray has led to internal tension, especially with veteran MNS leader and former MLA Nitin Sardesai. Reports suggest Sardesai, who has been a significant figure in the Mahim constituency, was absent from the key meeting, although sources clarified that he had informed Raj Thackeray in advance. The constituency has historically seen a close contest between the MNS and the Shiv Sena, with the MNS even managing to wrest control of Mahim in 2009.
In both the 2014 and 2019 assembly elections, MNS candidates provided a tough fight to Shiv Sena’s Sada Sarvankar. The upcoming election is expected to be no different, with the contest once again shaping up to be a fierce battle between the two Thackeray-led factions.
Political observers say fielding Amit Thackeray in Mahim could energise the party’s base but is fraught with risks. The situation is similar to Uddhav Thackeray’s strategic decisions in 2019 when he fielded his son Aaditya Thackeray from the relatively safe Worli constituency. Uddhav Thackeray managed to bring in key figures like former NCP MLA Sachin Ahir to solidify Aaditya’s chances, while also gaining the cooperation of sitting Shiv Sena MLA Sunil Shinde.
However, unlike Aaditya’s secure political path in 2019, Amit faces a more challenging situation. Raj Thackeray is unlikely to risk fielding his son unless victory seems assured. There is speculation that Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena may not field a candidate against Amit, considering the MNS did not oppose Aaditya in 2019. If Amit contests, it could lead to a delicate political balancing act, with Raj Thackeray potentially asking for reciprocal support from Uddhav in other key constituencies.
Adding to the complexity is the candidacy of MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande, who has reportedly been nominated to contest from Worli, Aaditya Thackeray’s constituency. This raises the question of whether Raj Thackeray, despite earlier cooperation, would be willing to pull Deshpande from the race in exchange for Uddhav’s goodwill gesture in Mahim.
While an official confirmation on Amit Thackeray’s candidacy is still awaited, it’s clear that if he enters the fray, it will be a high-stakes move for the MNS. Amit’s candidacy could spark enthusiasm within the party, but the road ahead is undoubtedly difficult. Raj Thackeray faces the challenge of ensuring that his son’s political entry is as strategically sound as Uddhav’s moves for Aaditya in 2019.
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