OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN MAHA POLITICS
The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) campaign, 'Mann Ki Baat, Modi ke Saath' will be the biggest such exercise in the world to get citizens suggestions to draw the party's manifesto for the 2019 polls, said minister Piyush Goyal. He said the party had disbursed
relevant as he can be used against both the Sena and BJP effectively,” said the NCP leader.
Moreover, despite Sena being critical of BJP and vouching to go solo, MNS members feel the parties will ultimately tie up. According to political analysts, it was not possible for mainstream parties to have direct alliance with MNS considering its anti-north Indian stance. “There will be a tacit understanding where NCP will field weak candidates against MNS. MNS seeks to wean away 7,500 suggestion boxes and 400 vehicles were visiting all constituencies to get citizens to give their suggestions on the future road map for the country. “The manifesto will be drawn up with the participation of common citizens. Several teams
Sena voters by claiming it was an opportunistic alliance and Sena has cheated its voters,” said political commentator Prakash Bal.
The Congress has also already indicated that it will have no truck with MNS. “There is no question of any alliance with MNS as it believes in divisive politics while we advocate an inclusive one,” said Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam.
MNS leaders claimed they are waiting for orders from Thackeray. “There are talks happening
including experts across various fields will be set up in the states and the Centre to go through the suggestions,” he said. Union minister for minorities, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, said, “We will also be talking and interacting with different sections of society.”
at the highest level and the final decision will be taken by our chief,” said MNS spokesperson Sandeep Deshpande. At the ground level, though, MNS workers seem clueless about what stand they would take during the LS polls. “Workers are completely demoralised and there are no clear orders from the top leaders. Except Thackeray, we have no one to look up to. We still don’t know whether we are going to contest the polls,” said a local leader, requesting anonymity.