Demonetisation rains on Raj, Uddhav’s shakha visit plans

Mumbai: The effects of demonetisation have been felt by politicians, but in a different way. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin, and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief, Raj Thackeray’s individual campaigns to visit their shakhas ahead of the municipal poll, which will take place next year, have been dashed, as their workers have been busy after the government’s decision was implemented.

Uddhav Thackeray had announced last month that he would visit Sena shakhas to encourage his workers. He even visited a few shakhas in the western suburbs and interacted with his party cadre. “It was a good initiative by Uddhavji and every small worker got an opportunity to interact with him. The visits had, no doubt, boosted the morale of party workers. However, demonetisation has made everyone busy and people are standing in queues. But the campaign will start again,” a Sena leader said. Sources in the party said one-to-one interaction by Uddhav Thackeray would make a lot of difference for the party, as the leader would realise the ground reality by visiting every shakha.

The MNS chief, who is struggling to make a comeback after receiving a drubbing in the Assembly, started a similar initiative in the city. In a bid to stop members from quitting his party ahead of the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, Raj Thackeray has decided to visit them.

There have been accusations that the MNS chief was not accessible to his party workers. “It is good if Rajsaheb visits the shakhas and communicates with us. This will definitely boost our confidence. However, all the present workers are facing troubles due to demonetisation and hence all the other political agenda are on hold,” a vibhag pramukh said on condition of anonymity.  Raj’s visit to shakhas was considered important as MNS corporators have chosen to join either the BJP or Shiv Sena ahead of the civic body polls.

The MNS won 29 seats in the 2012 BMC elections.