Only few day after the election campaign of LS elections ended in the summer of 2014 with Bhartiya Janata Party's sun rising. It's again back to square one for Maharashtra. The atmosphere for state polls was kicked off as early as 31st May when MNS Supremo Raj Thackeray declared in a massive rally in Mumbai that he will will be standing in the upcoming state elections and will lead, if the mandate is provided by voters.
Lets journey a few months back in the MNS poll campaign. By March when all political parties were in the last stages, MNS was yet to start their political campaign. This was the result of a dilemma created by Mr. Nitin Gadkari who had proposed before the MNS Supremo, not to contest the LS polls. Being an 8year old independent political party this option was not feasible for MNS Supremo as it would have sent negative vibes to party's the ranks & file and also to their well wishers and followers. The decision will also prove to be vital for the party's prospects in Vidhan Sabha polls slated for October.
BJP was completely aware of the impact of MNS in urban constituencies of Mumbai, Pune, Nashik belt. In 2009, NDA lost all six seats in Mumbai to the UPA as MNS had polled over lakh votes in all the seats. This divide strategy could have effected the massive BJP campaign lead by Mr. Narendra Modi and hence they were taking all possible steps to clear the hurdle. But for MNS, not contesting will mean the party is disinterested in active politics and hence the people may also not take them seriously in the state polls.
MNS had already started moving its pieces for 2014 polls since its state wide tour in February-March 2013 in which the MNS Supremo had addressed rallies in six major cities. The party had also promised for a blue print for the development of state which is slated to be released in August 2014. Hence creating a negative image by not contesting will have proved very costly for the future of MNS.
An alternative was necessary, such that it will not hurt the NDA campaign for Lok Sabha & MNS prospects for the Vidhan Sabha. Raj Thackeray was completely aware that victory for his candidates was not possible in the strong Modi wave. Hence he played a masterstroke. On the 8th Anniversary of the party, MNS Supremo declared that his party will contest the LS polls and the winning candidate will back Mr. Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of the country. In hindi there is a saying, 'Ek Teer se Do Nishan'.
The direct message of this decision was that the party's image which was said to be Congress(B) was wiped out. People who vote for MNS were assured that they will be a part of the Modi Wave. And by contesting, he sent out a message to the people that MNS means business & it wont scumb to any pressure. However what was in between the line was actually the masterstroke.
MNS Supremo further addressed around 35-40 rallies in the selected 10 constituencies. And in all his speeches he made a point to mention Mr. Narendra Modi's calibre to be a PM and praised the Gujarat Model of Development. It started coming out as an indirect message to the people to vote for NDA. As the normal voter must have thought if one wants to back Modi as the PM then why vote for MNS and risk the chances of NDA candidate, instead directly vote for them. His indirect appeal gained momentum when he rejected a proposal of NCP's Dhananjay Munde asking him to field a MNS candidate against Mr. Gopinath Munde. Instead he asked his party workers and people of Beed Constituency to vote for Mr. Gopinath Munde, BJP candidate. Even when the then BJP Chief & present Home Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh criticized MNS for using Modi's name in their campaign and disassociating them, Raj didn't dither from his stand. The end result of all this was NDA candidates won all the seats in which MNS contested, which was a reverse of 2009. Even state CM Mr. Prithiviraj Chavan accepted that MNS didn't proved beneficial to us(UPA).
So now what's next? Doesn't BJP owes a Thank You to MNS for their support. Just incase the BJP wants to, how will it say so? MNS is not welcome the Mahayuti for it's differences with Shiv Sena leadership. Also their are already 4-5 parties in that alliance. Hence where will MNS stand in case of seat sharing. Raj's special friendship with Mr. Nitin Gadkari and his good rapport with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, MNS can expect some perks in the state polls. But how this connection will unfold on time will reveal.
SR.
Lets journey a few months back in the MNS poll campaign. By March when all political parties were in the last stages, MNS was yet to start their political campaign. This was the result of a dilemma created by Mr. Nitin Gadkari who had proposed before the MNS Supremo, not to contest the LS polls. Being an 8year old independent political party this option was not feasible for MNS Supremo as it would have sent negative vibes to party's the ranks & file and also to their well wishers and followers. The decision will also prove to be vital for the party's prospects in Vidhan Sabha polls slated for October.
BJP was completely aware of the impact of MNS in urban constituencies of Mumbai, Pune, Nashik belt. In 2009, NDA lost all six seats in Mumbai to the UPA as MNS had polled over lakh votes in all the seats. This divide strategy could have effected the massive BJP campaign lead by Mr. Narendra Modi and hence they were taking all possible steps to clear the hurdle. But for MNS, not contesting will mean the party is disinterested in active politics and hence the people may also not take them seriously in the state polls.
MNS had already started moving its pieces for 2014 polls since its state wide tour in February-March 2013 in which the MNS Supremo had addressed rallies in six major cities. The party had also promised for a blue print for the development of state which is slated to be released in August 2014. Hence creating a negative image by not contesting will have proved very costly for the future of MNS.
An alternative was necessary, such that it will not hurt the NDA campaign for Lok Sabha & MNS prospects for the Vidhan Sabha. Raj Thackeray was completely aware that victory for his candidates was not possible in the strong Modi wave. Hence he played a masterstroke. On the 8th Anniversary of the party, MNS Supremo declared that his party will contest the LS polls and the winning candidate will back Mr. Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of the country. In hindi there is a saying, 'Ek Teer se Do Nishan'.
The direct message of this decision was that the party's image which was said to be Congress(B) was wiped out. People who vote for MNS were assured that they will be a part of the Modi Wave. And by contesting, he sent out a message to the people that MNS means business & it wont scumb to any pressure. However what was in between the line was actually the masterstroke.
MNS Supremo further addressed around 35-40 rallies in the selected 10 constituencies. And in all his speeches he made a point to mention Mr. Narendra Modi's calibre to be a PM and praised the Gujarat Model of Development. It started coming out as an indirect message to the people to vote for NDA. As the normal voter must have thought if one wants to back Modi as the PM then why vote for MNS and risk the chances of NDA candidate, instead directly vote for them. His indirect appeal gained momentum when he rejected a proposal of NCP's Dhananjay Munde asking him to field a MNS candidate against Mr. Gopinath Munde. Instead he asked his party workers and people of Beed Constituency to vote for Mr. Gopinath Munde, BJP candidate. Even when the then BJP Chief & present Home Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh criticized MNS for using Modi's name in their campaign and disassociating them, Raj didn't dither from his stand. The end result of all this was NDA candidates won all the seats in which MNS contested, which was a reverse of 2009. Even state CM Mr. Prithiviraj Chavan accepted that MNS didn't proved beneficial to us(UPA).
So now what's next? Doesn't BJP owes a Thank You to MNS for their support. Just incase the BJP wants to, how will it say so? MNS is not welcome the Mahayuti for it's differences with Shiv Sena leadership. Also their are already 4-5 parties in that alliance. Hence where will MNS stand in case of seat sharing. Raj's special friendship with Mr. Nitin Gadkari and his good rapport with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, MNS can expect some perks in the state polls. But how this connection will unfold on time will reveal.
SR.
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