BMC polls: MNS, BJP to go their own ways?

Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis with MNS chief Raj Thackeray at the latter’s home, in July. Pic/Sameer Markande

Divergent views taken by the BJP and MNS on many issues over the past few days might suggest that the two won't come together in the BMC polls, but the saffron party and the Raj Thackeray-led outfit could still have a tacit understanding to dent the chances of the Uddhav Thackeray faction, said experts.

Soon after Eknath Shinde broke away from Sena, Raj had given feelers that he was warming up to the rebels and BJP. In the recent past, Chief Minister Shinde visited Raj's home, while the latter went to Varsha, the CM's official residence. On both occasions, the BJP and MNS avoided talking to each other. In the 2017 BMC polls, MNS had won seven seats, while BJP had bagged 84, two less than the Shiv Sena.

MNS head Raj Thackeray with Hindu seers, who invited him to visit Ayodhya, at his home on Monday

The optics of bonhomie seems to have changed now. MNS legislator Raju Patil has criticised Shinde's Dussehra address. He tweeted, "BKC is like KBC, Maza nahi aya." The MNS has also directly opposed the BJP's stand on the film Adipurush.

Also Read: Mumbai: Loyalties first, family second for many in Shiv Sena

BJP MLA Ram Kadam has warned that they will not allow the screening of the movie in Maharashtra. Kadam said the director played with Hindu sentiments for "cheap publicity". "We will not allow screening of film Adipurush as it has distorted Hindu gods and goddesses," he claimed.

MNS's film wing (Chitrapat Sena) chief Amey Khopkar, however, said, "How can anyone judge a movie after watching the teaser? The audience will decide about the movie. Don't disappoint Hindu and Marathi directors." Om Raut is the director of Adipurush and MNS has backed the film.

After the Sena split, experts said, the chances of any alliance between the MNS and BJP are low. "MNS could contest the civic polls to take the Uddhav faction's place," said political expert Abhay Deshpande. "There is a better chance that BJP and MNS will strategically fight the poll. MNS will contest more aggressively in Uddhav's strongholds. They will not declare an alliance but maybe they will contest with a tacit understanding," he said, adding, "The BJP and Shinde faction will definitely contest the civic election in an alliance."

07
No. of seats won by MNS in 2017 BMC polls