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The 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections have been a watershed moment for the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), marking a significant low in the party’s political journey. Led by Raj Thackeray, the MNS failed to secure a single seat for the first time since its formation in 2006, raising serious questions about its relevance and future in the state’s political landscape.
MNS Falls to an All-Time Low
The MNS contested 128 seats across Maharashtra, including 26 in Mumbai, but could not translate its efforts into any meaningful success. For the first time, the party was completely wiped out of the Maharashtra Assembly, further diminishing its political stature.
The party’s poor performance was not limited to its inability to win seats. Its vote share also took a hit, dropping to 1.55%. The results underscore the challenges the MNS faces as it struggles to find its footing in an increasingly polarized political environment dominated by the two Shiv Sena factions and the BJP.
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Mumbai: A Major Blow for the MNS
Mumbai, traditionally a battleground for the Shiv Sena and its offshoots, proved to be a minefield for the MNS. While the party hoped for significant breakthroughs in constituencies like Mahim, Worli, and Sewri, it failed to make an impact.
- Amit Thackeray’s Debut in Mahim
Amit Thackeray, Raj’s son, contested from Mahim but came third in a triangular contest. Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Mahesh Sawant narrowly defeated Eknath Shinde faction’s Sada Sarvankar by 1,316 votes. Amit trailed behind by 17,151 votes in a seat that also houses the Thackeray residence, Shiv Tirth. - Loss in Sewri and Worli
The MNS had high hopes in Sewri and Worli, constituencies tied to its early successes. However, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s candidates secured decisive victories in both. In Worli, Aaditya Thackeray defeated Shinde Sena’s Milind Deora and MNS’s Sandeep Deshpande by a huge margin of 43,957 votes.
In other Mumbai constituencies like Vikhroli, Jogeshwari East, and Bandra East, the MNS split votes but failed to make significant inroads, indirectly aiding other parties.
A Declining Trend for the MNS
The MNS’s decline is stark when compared to its early successes. In its debut in 2009, the party won 13 Assembly seats and established itself as a force to reckon with. However, this momentum was short-lived.
- In 2014, the party contested 219 seats but won only one, forfeiting deposits in 209.
- In 2019, it again managed just one seat despite contesting 101 constituencies.
- In 2024, even its lone MLA, Raju Patil from Kalyan West, lost by over 66,000 votes.
Party Symbol Under Threat
The MNS now faces the possibility of losing its iconic railway engine symbol, a consequence of failing to secure any seats in the Assembly and a significant drop in vote share. The Election Commission’s rules require political parties to meet minimum performance criteria to retain their symbols. Losing the symbol would be a severe blow to the party’s identity and could further erode its support base.
Election Commission’s Rules on Recognition and Symbols
According to the ECI’s guidelines, a political party must fulfill the following criteria to retain its recognition as a state party and the associated election symbol:
- Legislative Performance:
The party must secure at least 6% of the total valid votes polled in the state, or win a minimum of two seats in the Legislative Assembly or one seat in the Lok Sabha from the state. - Vote Share Threshold:
Alternatively, a party must win 3% of the total number of seats in the Assembly or at least three seats, whichever is higher. - Consistent Results Over Two Elections:
A party’s performance in two successive general elections (Lok Sabha or Assembly) is evaluated. Failure to meet the above criteria in both elections results in the withdrawal of its state party status. - Consequences of Derecognition:
If a party loses its recognition, it can no longer exclusively use its reserved symbol. Instead, it must compete under a free or temporary symbol allocated by the ECI during elections.
Raj Thackeray’s Response
After the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s poor performance in the recent assembly elections, party chief Raj Thackeray shared his first reaction. On X (formerly Twitter), he expressed his disappointment with a subtle post, saying, “Unbelievable…That’s all for now.”