Last election for Marathi manoos: Raj Thackeray ahead of BMC polls
The upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls have set the stage for a high-stakes battle in Mumbai, with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray making a passionate appeal to the Marathi-speaking population to come together and protect their interests. In a significant development, Thackeray announced that he and his cousin, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray, have joined forces to contest the elections, citing the grave danger that Mumbai faces.
According to Raj Thackeray, this election is a make-or-break moment for the Marathi manoos (Marathi-speaking people), and the consequences of failure will be dire. “This is the last election for Marathi manoos…If a mistake is made now, the battle for Mumbai will be lost forever,” he warned. The MNS chief’s words reflect the deep-seated anxiety among the Marathi-speaking population about their diminishing influence in the city’s politics and their concerns about being marginalized by other communities.
Thackeray’s statement comes at a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been making aggressive inroads into the state, particularly in Mumbai, where it has traditionally been weak. The BJP’s Hindutva and nationalist agenda have resonated with some sections of the population, but Uddhav Thackeray was quick to dismiss these claims, labeling them as “fake.” The Shiv Sena leader’s comments are a clear indication that the alliance between the MNS and the Shiv Sena is geared towards countering the BJP’s growing influence in the state.
The BMC polls are being seen as a litmus test for the MNS-Shiv Sena alliance, which is seeking to regain its dominance in Mumbai’s civic body. The BJP, on the other hand, is looking to expand its footprint in the city, where it has traditionally been a minor player. The polls are expected to be a closely contested affair, with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) also vying for power.
The MNS-Shiv Sena alliance is a significant development in Maharashtra’s politics, particularly given the bitter rivalry between the two parties in the past. The coming together of the Thackeray cousins is being seen as a pragmatic move to counter the BJP’s growing influence in the state. The alliance is expected to have a significant impact on the outcome of the BMC polls, which will be held in the coming months.
Raj Thackeray’s appeal to the Marathi manoos is a clever strategy to mobilize support for the MNS-Shiv Sena alliance. By framing the election as a battle for the survival of the Marathi-speaking community, Thackeray is seeking to tap into the deep-seated anxieties and fears of the community. The MNS chief’s message is clear: if the Marathi manoos does not come together to protect its interests, it will be marginalized forever.
The BMC polls are also significant because they will have a bearing on the future of Mumbai’s politics. The city is a melting pot of different cultures and communities, and the polls will be a test of the city’s tolerance and inclusiveness. The MNS-Shiv Sena alliance is seeking to project itself as a champion of the Marathi manoos, but it remains to be seen whether this strategy will resonate with the broader population.
In the end, the outcome of the BMC polls will depend on a variety of factors, including the performance of the incumbent government, the credibility of the candidates, and the mood of the electorate. However, one thing is clear: the polls will be a closely contested affair, with the MNS-Shiv Sena alliance, the BJP, and the Congress-NCP alliance all vying for power.
As the city gears up for the polls, one thing is certain: the future of Mumbai’s politics will be shaped by the outcome of the BMC elections. The Marathi manoos will be watching the polls with bated breath, knowing that the consequences of failure will be dire. Will the MNS-Shiv Sena alliance be able to mobilize support for its cause, or will the BJP’s Hindutva and nationalist agenda resonate with the population? Only time will tell.
News Source: https://repository.inshorts.com/articles/en/PTI/d8b9be65-7833-4fcd-8217-a114db19062c
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