Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Monday announced “unconditional support” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for the Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing the Gudi Padwa rally from Mumbai’s Shivaji Park, Thackeray also announced that the MNS will not contest for Lok Sabha polls but asked his supporters to be ready for Maharashtra Assembly elections which are due later this year.
“I don’t want Rajya Sabha or Vidhan sabha, I told Fadnavis. I told them, I have no expectations and no conditions. My full support for Modi, BJP, NCP (Ajit Pawar), Sena (Eknath Shinde),” he said.
The MNS leader’s meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s last month sparked speculations that he might not join the Mahayuti – an alliance of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction in Maharashtra.
“For the last one and a half year, CM of Maharashtra has been saying we should work together. Fadnavis too said the same thing. So I went to meet Amit Shah to understand what was the proposal… We spoke of seat distribution. The last time I sat for negotiations was in 1995. I don’t have the temperament of negotiations,” he added.
However, Thackeray said that he would not compromise on his party symbol and would contest elections using party symbol. “I have gained our symbol with a lot of hard work. No compromise on symbol,” he said.
The MNS chief said that the Lok Sabha election will decide the future of the country. “Whether we prosper or we go to the dungeons,” he said.
Raj Thackeray separated from the undivided Shiv Sena and floated the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in 2006. Despite being recognised as a compelling speaker with a dedicated following, his MNS did not achieve significant influence. His contentious remarks against North Indians in the past provoked strong condemnation from leaders of different political parties, including the BJP.