MUMBAI: Just like any other political outfit, the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) too had its share of internal squabbles and with the party all set to announce its list of candidates for the upcoming civic polls, the MNS supremo has shed his image of being a firebrand and mercurial persona.
Recently, Raj addressed a group of aspiring party candidates in Mumbai, who had gathered to find out whether they had made it into the official list. Taking everyone by surprise, he sought forgiveness from the party’s rank and file, who did not figure in the MNS’ final list.
According to the MNS chief, he was concerned about the reaction of the family members of ticket-seekers, who were overlooked by the party, and their perception of the MNS leadership. He said the party workers, who were disheartened at not getting tickets, worried him more than the rival political parties.
In an apparent bid to placate party members, Raj pointed out that those who got tickets should not be seen as better than those who could not make it. Even as he revealed that the MNS leadership had a hard time picking the candidates, Raj urged all the party workers to work towards the party’s success in the polls.
For MNS, this is only the second civic election. The party has seven members in the outgoing civic body and one of the MNS corporators, Mangesh Sangle, is also an MLA from the Vikhorli.
According to MNS vice-president Wageesh Saraswat, the party has accommodated all the six corporators and it did not fear any rebellion from the disgruntled party workers.