Maharashtra Assembly polls: MNS releases its first list of 27 candidates

  • | Wednesday | 2nd October, 2019

The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Tuesday released its first list of 27 candidates, with former corporator Sandeep Deshpande (Mahim) and its lone corporator Sanjay Turde (Kalina) among prominent names. Additionally, while former MNS MLA Nitin Sardesai has stayed away from fighting from Mahim, the party has also not announced a nominee from Shivdi, which was earlier represented by senior MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar. There is a likelihood that the senior, first-rung MNS leadership may sit out of these elections, in favour of younger leaders. In 2009, the MNS shocked political pundits by winning 13 seats in the state Assembly in its political debut. Sonawane switched sides to the Shiv Sena before the recent Lok Sabha elections.

The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Tuesday released its first list of 27 candidates, with former corporator Sandeep Deshpande (Mahim) and its lone corporator Sanjay Turde (Kalina) among prominent names. Incidentally, the party did not field anyone against Raj's nephew Aaditya Thackeray from the Worli constituency. Meanwhile, Narendra, the son of Dhule farmer Dharma Patil — who committed suicide in the state administrative headquarters of Mantralaya to protest the lack of adequate compensation for his land being acquired for a solar energy project — will be the MNS nominee from Sindkheda in Dhule against tourism minister Jaykumar Rawal. Former legislators Nitin Bhosale (Nashik Central) and Prakash Bhoir (Kalyan Rural) will also be in the fray, along with former Nashik mayor Ashok Murtadak (Nashik East), Avinash Jadhav (Thane), Vasant More (Hadapsar), Akhil Chitre (Bandra East) and Rajesh Yerunkar (Dahisar). Additionally, while former MNS MLA Nitin Sardesai has stayed away from fighting from Mahim, the party has also not announced a nominee from Shivdi, which was earlier represented by senior MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar. There is a likelihood that the senior, first-rung MNS leadership may sit out of these elections, in favour of younger leaders. In 2009, the MNS shocked political pundits by winning 13 seats in the state Assembly in its political debut. The presence of the party is expected to have damaged the BJP and Shiv Sena in 53 more seats, leading to the victory of the Congress and NCP. However, a series of tactical errors and missteps saw the party lose all incumbent seats in 2014, with Sharad Sonawane from Junnar in Pune being the sole victor. Sonawane switched sides to the Shiv Sena before the recent Lok Sabha elections.

If You Like This Story, Support NYOOOZ

NYOOOZ SUPPORTER

NYOOOZ FRIEND

Your support to NYOOOZ will help us to continue create and publish news for and from smaller cities, which also need equal voice as much as citizens living in bigger cities have through mainstream media organizations.


Stay updated with all the Mumbai Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.

Related Articles