NCP Urges Raj Thackeray to Reflect on Party's Electoral Failures

Mumbai, Jan 30 (NationPress) The ruling Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra has recently urged Raj Thackeray, leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, to reflect on his party's inability to secure any seats in the Assembly elections rather than criticizing the NCP and its chief Ajit Pawar regarding their achievement of 41 seats.

The NCP's response followed Thackeray's remarks at a rally in Worli, where he questioned the NCP's electoral success. The NCP highlighted that, despite the MNS contesting 128 seats, it failed to win any, garnering only 1.55 percent of the votes.

The party, led by Ajit Pawar, pointed out that the MNS currently risks losing its party symbol, the railway engine.

Anand Paranjpe, the NCP's chief spokesman, stated: "Rather than pondering how the NCP secured 41 seats in the MahaYuti alliance, Raj Thackeray should prioritize saving his party, retaining its members, and regaining the confidence of Maharashtra’s citizens."

Paranjpe also noted that while Raj Thackeray is recognized as a significant leader in Maharashtra, his inconsistent positions have made the public skeptical. During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he supported the Congress-NCP alliance against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but in the 2024 elections, he shifted his support to ensure Modi's re-election.

"The MNS appears to be uncertain about its role in the MahaYuti alliance. Although the NCP may not have achieved its desired results in the Lok Sabha elections, the party under Ajit Pawar's guidance has actively engaged with the public to understand and resolve their concerns," he added.

Conversely, the MNS has been perceived as consistently changing its position, according to Paranjpe.

"Examining Raj Thackeray's speeches reveals that his frequent stance changes have led to a loss of trust among the people of Maharashtra," he said.

In 2009, the MNS succeeded in electing 13 MLAs, but its presence has diminished over time, with only one MLA elected in 2014 and 2019, leaving the party without any representation in the current Maharashtra Assembly. This situation demands critical self-reflection from Raj Thackeray and his party," Paranjpe remarked with a hint of sarcasm.

At the party rally, Thackeray raised several questions regarding the Assembly election outcomes, including the role of EVMs, expressing disbelief that even elected ruling MLAs were surprised by their victories. He questioned how his MLA, Raju Patil from Kalyan Rural, could receive no votes from his own village.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, currently campaigning in Delhi, downplayed Thackeray's claims, stating he would comment further upon his return to Mumbai.

However, BJP's Mumbai chief and state minister Ashish Shelar commented, "Public support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on the rise. If there’s anything to learn, here’s some friendly advice for Raj Thackeray!"