MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) became inconsequential in Maharashtra following their unimpressive performance.
The MNS, which had taken over one lakh votes in 11 constituencies in 2009 election, could not repeat the same feat this time. Its candidate in Mumbai South Bala Nandgaonkar secured a maximum of nearly 84,000 votes. No other candidate of the party could cross the 30,000 mark. The party had secured 2 lakh votes in Nashik in 2009. However, its candidate Dr Pradeep Pawar could not even save his deposit this time.
Similarly, none of the AAP candidates could cross the mark of 40,000 votes. Its candidate in Mumbai South Meera Sanyal got close to 40,000 votes. Medha Patkar also could manage only 30,000 votes in Mumbai North-East.
MNS president Raj Thackeray’s diminishing charisma is the reason behind the party’s debacle. Contrary to his reputation as a crowd-puller, he had failed to draw audiences to his rallies. MNS leader Sanjay Ghadi, though, refused to attribute it to Thackeray’s failure. “He (Raj) is as equally charismatic as Narendra Modi. You will see the tables turned in coming years,” Ghadi said.
AAP leader Viththal Lad claimed that his party did not contest the election to win. “We are a new party. Our intention was to make the voters aware about our political system and I think we have succeeded in it,” he said.