The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) led by Raj Thackeray has revealed a list of 53 candidates for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections scheduled for January 15. This announcement follows the recent alliance between MNS and Shiv Sena-UBT for the BMC polls, clarifying the seat-sharing arrangement among the parties. The alliance has settled on contesting 163 seats for Shiv Sena-UBT, 53 for MNS, and 11 for NCP-SP out of the total 227 seats in the BMC.
The list of candidates released by MNS includes notable names like Yashwant Killedar, Kasturi Rohekar, Shailendra More, Baban Mahadik, and Mukesh Bhalerao. The strategic move of forming this alliance and announcing candidates early aims to consolidate the Marathi vote bank and pose a challenge in the prestigious civic body elections. Raj Thackeray, the MNS Chief, emphasized the importance of the alliance with Shiv Sena-UBT in protecting Marathi interests and reclaiming Mumbai’s identity.
Addressing the voters, Raj Thackeray highlighted the need for Marathi unity in voting to regain control of Mumbai. He criticized the ruling government for neglecting local interests and accused them of manipulating voters and EVMs to sway the election. Thackeray urged voters to verify their names in the lists, cautioning against the addition of fake voters to dilute the Marathi vote share. The alliance between MNS and Shiv Sena-UBT promises a focus on local employment and the preservation of Marathi culture in the city.
