How Raj Thackeray’s MNS hurt not just Shiv Sena, but also NCP, Congress and BJP

MNS played spoilsport for Shiv Sena-BJP on 5 seats, and it did the same to Congress-NCP combine even though it had tacit understanding with opposition.

File photo of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray | Photo: ANI

New Delhi: Raj Thackeray and his Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) were expected to damage the electoral prospects of his cousin Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, but the party ended up as a double-edged sword, equally scuttling the chances of both the ruling and opposition alliances.

The MNS played spoilsport for the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance on five seats but was also instrumental in the defeat of Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidates on as many seats.

Although the MNS hadn’t entered into any formal alliance, it was expected to help the Congress-NCP combine tacitly by eating into the ruling coalition’s vote-banks. In the Lok Sabha elections too, Raj had addressed public meetings in what was seen as an attempt to damage the electoral prospects of his cousin’s party.

In these assembly elections, there were more indications of this tactic. In Kothrud for instance, the BJP had fielded its state president Chandrakant Patil but the opposition Congress and NCP joined hands to support the MNS candidate Kishor Shinde.

Even the one seat that the MNS won, Kalyan (Rural), where it beat the Shiv Sena in a tight contest, the MNS had indirect support of the NCP, Congress, sources said. The party had contested in 100 of the 288 seats.

Hurt all sides

Despite the seeming bonhomie, analysis of the Maharashtra results shows that the MNS managed to hurt the Congress on four and the NCP on one seat.

Take for example Kalina, where the 18.89 per cent votes of the MNS played a decisive role in the Shiv Sena securing the seat with 36.53 per cent votes; the Congress finished second with 32.37 per cent. It was a similar tale in four other constituencies (see box).

The MNS had the same effect on the ruling combine. It affected the prospects of the Shiv Sena on three seats and the BJP in two constituencies (see box).

When asked how MNS affected the Congress’ poll prospects, a senior party leader said they did not feel the need to ally with the regional outfit but backed its strong candidates.

“There’s no question of allying with the MNS but at the same time, our bigger concern was to defeat BJP and Shiv Sena. There were a few seats where we felt supporting their candidate who was strong would help us defeat the ruling alliance,” said Ashish Dua, secretary, AICC, and party in-charge of the Vidarbha region.