In what is a significant political development the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) would be contesting the 21 October state Assembly elections, party President Raj Thackeray announced in Mumbai on Monday, 30 September, reported IANS.
“We will contest the Assembly elections and shall also win. The candidates and the seats on which we shall contest will be announced in the next couple of days,” Thackeray said amidst thunderous applause at a meeting of party leaders and office-bearers.
The cousin of Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray and nephew of the late Bal Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, 52, had quit the party in 2006 and formed the MNS the same year.
Though the exact number of seats the MNS will contest is not clear as yet, following a meeting at the MIG Club in Bandra on Monday afternoon, party sources cited by IANS indicated that the number may be around 125.