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This is an archive article published on October 17, 2017

Six jump ship: Raj Thackeray firefights, to meet MNS corporators individually

Over the past two elections held to Maharashtra’s 27 municipal corporations, the MNS tally of corporators has gone down from 148 to 43

Raj Thackeray, MNS Chief Raj Thackeray, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Mumbai MNS Chief Raj Thackera, MNS Corporators, Mumbai News, Latest Mumbai News, Indian Express, Indian Express News MNS leader Raj Thackeray. (Express photo by Prashant Nadkar)

Stung by six Maharashtra Navnirman Sena corporators in Mumbai jumping ship to join the Shiv Sena, MNS chief Raj Thackeray is now firefighting to ensure that the 37 remaining corporators from his party spread across Maharashtra stay in the partyfold. In order to ensure that they stick to the party, Thackeray will meet them individually to address any concerns they may have about the party.

Thackeray’s MNS, when it first appeared on the state’s political scene a decade back, had raised expectations as an alternative to established parties, but has since witnessed a steep decline.

Over the past two elections held to Maharashtra’s 27 municipal corporations, the MNS tally of corporators has gone down from 148 to 43. These 43 include the six Mumbai corporators who left the party last week. The only city where the MNS is in a politically strong position is Jalgaon, where it has 12 corporators and holds the post of mayor. The other corporations where it has substantial clout include Kalyan Dombivali where it has 10 corporators and Nashik, where it has five.

Many corporators including those in Nashik, where the MNS had around 40 corporators after the previous election, had complained that the party was being run by a coterie of Raj’s closest associates. Subsequently, the party performed miserably in Nashik, its tally going down from 40 to 5 corporators.

MNS leaders said that Thackeray will speak to all corporators and district-level leaders to ensure that the flock stays together. The protests against hawkers by Thackeray following the stampede at Elphinstone station had created a glimmer of hope for the possible rejuvenation of the party. The defection of the six corporators, however, has pushed the party once again on the backfoot.

Meanwhile, MNS leaders Sandeep Deshpande and Avinash Abhyankar submitted an application at the Konkan Divisional Commissioner’s office on Monday asking the commissioner not to register the six MNS corporators as a separate unit.

Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports. Expertise  Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas: Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai. Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC). Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai). Trustworthiness & Credibility Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence. Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers). Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports. He tweets @zeeshansahafi ... Read More

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