Lok Sabha Election 2024 : BJP is likely to benefit from MNS joining Mahayuti

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray held discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Tuesday, suggesting the possibility of collaboration with the BJP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. During the meeting, Thackeray put forth a request for two significant constituencies – South Mumbai and Shirdi – as part of a potential alliance agreement.

Political observers have also predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would benefit from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) joining forces with them for the Pune Lok Sabha seat.

In each of the previous three assembly elections, MNS garnered a sizable portion of the city’s vote. Mumbai, Nashik, and Pune are the three Maharashtra cities where MNS is notably present.

MNS ran an anti-BJP campaign in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, but it did not run a candidate. However, Deepak Paigude, a former MLA, ran as an MNS candidate for Pune Lok Sabha in 2014 and garnered 93,503 votes. Ranjeet Shirole of the MNS received 75,930 votes in 2014, the majority of which came from young people and saffron party supporters.

In the Kothrud seat during the 2029 assembly election, Maharashtra minister and senior BJP leader Chandrakant Patil faced stiff opposition from MNS candidate Kishor Shinde.

Former MNS leader Ravindra Dhangekar is currently an assembly MLA for Kasba peth constituency from Congress. He and the late Girish Bapat engaged in close combat. Significant support was also given to ex MNS leader Vasant More in the Hadapsar assembly constituency.

According to some political analysts, the data suggests that the MNS party has a sizable support base in Pune, particularly in the Pune Lok Sabha seat. The decision by Raj Thackeray to join the Mahayuti will benefit the BJP and its coalition in Pune.