Mumbai, Dec 29 (NationPress) The President of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Raj Thackeray, officially launched the party's campaign for the forthcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections on Monday by revealing its initial candidate.

Yashwant Killedar, a senior MNS leader and spokesperson, has been issued the ‘AB form’ to contest from the Dadar (Shivaji Park) constituency, recognized as one of the party’s crucial bastions. The AB form confirms a candidate as the endorsed representative of a political party.

This announcement arrives amid a surge of political activity in Mumbai, with significant parties working on finalizing seat-sharing arrangements for the civic elections. By issuing the AB form, MNS leadership signals that the party is gearing up to strengthen its grassroots mobilization in traditional Marathi-populated areas of the city.

Raj Thackeray’s move follows the recent declaration of a partnership between MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) for the BMC elections, a strategy aimed at unifying Marathi votes in Mumbai. Killedar, a longstanding MNS member, has been engaged in the Dadar-Mahim region for several years and is well-known among local party affiliates.

Sources within the party mentioned that announcing a candidate early aims to provide organizational clarity and enable workers to initiate campaign efforts promptly. The Shivaji Park–Dadar area is viewed as the ideological foundation of both the undivided Shiv Sena and MNS, and the competition in this region is anticipated to be fiercely contested.

The contest is expected to feature multiple candidates, including representatives from MNS, Shiv Sena (UBT), and those supported by the Mahayuti alliance.

Responding to his nomination, Killedar expressed optimism, asserting that the local electorate has consistently backed Raj Thackeray’s vision. He emphasized the importance of addressing civic infrastructure challenges while preserving the area's cultural identity.

As the MNS announces its first candidate, the party plans to reveal its complete roster for the 227-member civic body in phases over the upcoming days. Political analysts believe that the party could significantly influence several wards, particularly in Marathi-speaking neighborhoods.

Simultaneously, senior MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar remarked that the forthcoming BMC elections represent a struggle for the “existence” of the Marathi community and alleged efforts to undermine Maharashtra’s influence over Mumbai.

In statements to the media, Nandgaonkar noted that while elections are a regular democratic process, the BMC polls carry greater importance for the state and Marathi citizens. He charged that there is a conspiracy to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra, describing it as a serious issue.

He urged voters to counter what he labeled as such schemes and insisted that Mumbai must remain under the guidance of the 'Marathi manoos'. He also highlighted that MNS is contesting an alliance election after nearly two decades.

Calling for unwavering commitment to “alliance dharma,” Nandgaonkar urged party workers to fully support candidates from Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), especially during the nomination filing process.

“Raj Thackeray has sent a clear directive to the organization to back every candidate from the alliance. All members must engage actively to maintain power in Mumbai,” he stated.

Regarding the allocation of party tickets, Nandgaonkar mentioned that AB forms were being distributed from Rajgad, the MNS headquarters. He opted not to disclose the number of seats the party intends to contest, noting that clarity would emerge once the nomination process concludes.

Recognizing potential discontent among workers due to seat-sharing, he acknowledged that such situations are common in any alliance. However, he urged party members to remain united, asserting that the coalition led by Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray would continue to face future political challenges together.