A new controversy erupted in Maharashtra recently when MNS chief Raj Thackeray demanded the closure of loudspeakers in mosques. Raj Thackeray said at a rally in Shivaji Park, “Why are loudspeakers in mosques played so loudly? If this is not stopped then Hanuman Chalisa will be played in louder voice on the speaker outside the mosques.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari meets Raj Thackeray
After this statement of Raj Thackeray, BJP has come into active mode. BJP and MNS have come together for loudspeaker campaign. It is also being linked to the preparation of local elections. In this sequence, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray at his residence in Mumbai.
However, he called it a family meeting and denied any political motive behind the meeting. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Gadkari pointed to his old ties with the MNS chief’s family and said that he had come to their house on their invitation.
BJP eyes on BMC elections
Ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, BJP and MNS are speaking in one voice. With an emotional issue just ahead of the corporation elections, the BJP and MNS aim to corner the Shiv Sena, which is now in alliance with the NCP and Congress. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray raised the issue at a Dadar rally on Sunday, soon after BJP leaders asked Mumbai Police to remove ‘illegal’ loudspeakers from mosques.
A day after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray warned mosques not to use loudspeakers, his party workers on Sunday played Hanuman Chalisa over a loudspeaker in front of the party office in Kalyan town of Thane district. They also raised slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’.
On this matter, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil said that the government will take action. He said that the Maharashtra Police has cracked down on groups that are “spoiling the atmosphere” and “spoiling communal harmony”. BJP and MNS plan to highlight this as ‘another sign’ that the MVA government is working ‘against Hindus’.
No alliance with MNS, will BJP seek support?
There is little chance that the BJP will form an alliance with the MNS in the BMC elections. BJP also has a good presence in MNS strongholds like Mahim, Dadar, Parel, Lalbagh, Borivali, where MNS can talk about seat-sharing with BJP. Which BJP hardly accepts. However, on the contrary, if MNS supports the BJP informally, it will definitely hurt the Shiv Sena. There is a large section of voters in Mumbai who are loyal to Babasaheb Thackeray and choose between Shiv Sena and MNS.
Shiv Sena has an edge over BJP in 38 to 40 electoral wards of Mumbai. The BJP aims to damage at least 10-12 of those seats, which could play a key role in dislodging the Shiv Sena from the country’s richest local body. If the strategy works, the BJP may cross the 100 mark on its own towards the 118-seat mark.