Summary:
As the curtains go up on the Maharashtra state Assembly elections, the leaders and cadre of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) are confused about whether the party will contest the polls or stay out of it like during the Lok Sabha. "There are political careers at stake, that is the problem in the MNS staying out of a contest," he admitted. During the Lok Sabha polls, Raj had launched a surrogate campaign for the Congress-NCP and against the BJP- Shiv Sena, using audio-visual tools. "If he wants to keep his flock together, Raj must contest the elections," said a senior Shiv Sena leader. This arrangement could help the BJP sail past in tough contests in seats where the MNS was in the fray if its alliance with the Shiv Sena broke..