Raj Thackeray to visit shakhas ahead of BMC polls

In a bid to stop members from quitting his party ahead of the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has decided to conduct party affairs from outside his residence “Krishnakunj”.

Mr Thackeray has announced that he will visit MNS shakhas (offices) and interact with party workers.

The decision comes amidst accusations that the MNS chief is not accessible to his party workers.

After the drubbing MNS received in Parliament and the state assembly polls in 2014, many workers left the party and joined other political parties. Even MNS corporators have chosen to join either the BJP or Shiv Sena ahead of the civic body polls. In the 2012 BMC elections, MNS had won 29 seats.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one of the vibhag pramukhs (regional in-charge) admitted that the MNS cadre lacked motivation especially after the last two major poll debacles.

“The situation was the same until Mr Thackeray raised the issue of a ban on Pakistani artists and film actors. Now there is hope that the party has some issue to make its presence felt,” he said. “When sahib (Mr Thackeray) has decided to visit the shakhas to listen to party workers, it will definitely work positively in the upcoming civic body elections.”