Maharashtra Politics: Raj Thackeray’s party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, is in discussion recently due to its aggressive activities. Somewhere the toll points are being vandalized, then somewhere auto drivers are being beaten up, and violent demonstrations are being done on shopkeepers about Marathi language. All this is happening when the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections are near. After all, why has MNS become so active? Does it have any political purpose? Let’s try to understand it.
Constant decline in MNS strength
Raj Thackeray separated from Shiv Sena in 2006 and formed Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). The main objective of the party was to protect the interests of Marathi Manus and propagate Hindutva. In 2009, MNS showed its strength by winning 13 seats, but the party’s performance in 2014 and 2019 elections weakened. In the 2024 assembly elections, MNS could not win a single seat and his bail was confiscated in 119 seats. As such, BMC elections are the last chance to save their credibility for MNS. Mumbai has always been a stronghold of MNS, and it is very important for them to capture BMC.
After all, why did MNS become aggressive?
To understand the recent activities of MNS, it is necessary to know the strategy behind it. Some of the main reasons for the aggression of MNS can be:
United Marathi vote bank:
MNS has always worked on the issue of Marathi Manus and Marathi Asmita. Recently, controversies over Marathi language, such as pressure on shopkeepers to speak Marathi and demand for use of Marathi in banks, are part of the old strategy of MNS. This is an example of killing a shopkeeper in 2025 in Bhayandar of Thane. Such incidents give a message to Marathi voters that MNS is struggling to protect their language and identity.
Challenging Shiv Sena and BJP:
The main rivals of MNS are Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and BJP, who are part of Mahayuti. In the 2024 assembly elections, MNS fielded candidates for 25 seats in Mumbai, but could not win any seat. Nevertheless, he benefited the Shiv Sena (UBT) by dividing votes at some places. Now in BMC elections, MNS wants to adopt the same strategy so that it can weaken Mahayuti’s vote bank.
Possibility of alliance with Uddhav Thackeray:
Recently Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray shared the platform together on the issue of Marathi language and identity, which became a topic of great discussion in political circles. Uddhav indicated that he is ready for an alliance with MNS in the BMC elections. If this alliance takes place, MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) together can unite Marathi votes, which can increase difficulties for BJP and Shinde faction. The aggression of MNS can be a step towards this alliance.
Stay in headlines and enthusiasm among workers
MNS has well understood that his credibility and vote bank have weakened. Therefore, incidents such as sabotage on toll points, assault of auto drivers and shopkeepers bring them to media headlines. Even though these incidents are negative, the party gives the message that it is fighting for Marathi interests. At the same time, such demonstrations excite their workers and show that the party is active in the field. MNS knows that his victory in BMC elections will depend on the hard work and strength of the organization.
Importance of BMC elections
BMC is the richest Municipal Corporation in the country, whose budget is between around 45,000 and 50,000 crore rupees annually, it is the center of Mumbai politics, and the party which has control BMC, not only gets economic strength, but also increases political influence. The Shiv Sena captured BMC for a long time, but after the partition of the party in 2022, the conflict between Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde has increased. Along with this, BJP is also trying to strengthen its hold in Mumbai. This election is important for MNS, because it can lead to their political situation.
MNS wants to get back her lost land
MNS’s increasing activism and aggression is part of his strategy before the BMC elections. The party now wants to regain its lost political land by raising the Marathi identity. Along with this, efforts are made to make MNS relevant again with Uddhav Thackeray to remain in a possible alliance and headlines.
However, public displeasure and violent image against the party is also a big challenge. MNS’s performance in BMC elections will depend on how it implements her strategy and whether she can win the trust of Marathi voters. Will MNS be able to regain her old strength, or will it prove to be her last bet? This will only tell the time to come.