PUNE: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) can change Pune’s political equations. In Pune, MNS has demanded seats, if it joins the grand alliance, failing which they will go solo and create problems for the Congress. MNS is eyeing the Kothrud and Hadapsar constituencies.
MNS Chief Raj Thackeray has become closer to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar for more than a year. Raj shared the stage with NCP chief several times last year. However, Congress had kept its distance from MNS during the Lok Sabha polls.
Recently, the Enforcement Directorate interrogated Raj in a money laundering case, on which Thackeray did not issue any statement. MNS workers were in dilemma whether their party would contest State assembly polls or not. On Friday, senior party leader Bala Nandgaonkar announced that MNS would contest around 100 seats in the State assembly polls in many cities, including Pune.
The two seats that are sought by MNS are Kothrud and Hadapsar. In Hadapsar, sitting corporator Vasant More is interested in contesting the poll while in Kothrud, MNS still has to announce its candidate.
MNS city president Ajay Shinde said, “Our target is to contest all seats. But I don’t know about senior leaders’ decision about the Pune seats. Kothrud is our stronghold while we have a good chance in Kasba as compared to the past State assembly polls. Let us see what happens in the coming days. However, we have completed all preparations for the State polls in Pune.”
A senior office-bearer of the Congress said, “The Congress and the NCP’s seat sharing formula for Pune is equal number of seats (four) each as of now. Both parties will have to give up their allotted seats to MNS. It is not decided which ones. Pune Cantonment, Shivajinagar and Kasba are part of the Congress quota. Both parties will have to decide on Kothrud and Parvati.”
One of the senior leaders of NCP said, “NCP will give a choice to MNS for Kothrud and Hadapsar state assembly seats. NCP has soft corner for MNS and it will give it a chance despite Congress’s lack of enthusiasm for MNS.”
