Why BJP wants MNS on Board?
Perhaps with MNS interested in South mumbai and the Nashik lok sabha seat, the Marathi-speaking South mumbai vote base can help the bjp in fighting incumbent arvind sawant of the shiv sena (UBT) which has retained core base in Nashik as well during the civic body elections. Sources say the bjp believes raj Thackeray’s oratory skills, his ability to draw crowds will help the party counter uddhav Thackeray’s appeal, and have a member of the thackeray clan to their side. Although the MNS has no mp or mla in maharashtra, the bjp hopes to make use of raj Thackeray’s Marathi-speaking vote base in mumbai, Thane, pune and Nashik civic bodies.Meanwhile raj Thackeray’s brand, Eknath Shinde’s rivalry with shiv sena (UBT) and BJP’s ideological stance would help the party gain ground strength. When asked about Raj thackeray joining the Mahayuti alliance, bjp leader Nitesh Rane, in an exclusive chat, said that it will strengthen the party’s Hindutva agenda. Taking a jibe at former maharashtra chief minister uddhav thackeray, Rane said, “We will get original thackeray with us. uddhav thackeray is now Chinese brand, duplicate. He isn’t true to Hindutva. He has joined hands with the Congress. Whereas Raj thackeray is the firebrand Hindutva icon who carries the mantle of balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology.”When asked whether the bjp will be willing to give a seat to the MNS, Rane said that the main aim is to “make Modiji the prime minister for the third time.” “We will take everyone along. And as our leader Fadnavis has said, we will take all our friends together and will adjust wherever required,” he added.