Setback for Raj, MNS vote share falls by half

In 2009, it did not manage to win a single seat but played a major role in defeating Sena-BJP nominees who lost by a margin of 3,000-50,000 votes with the MNS drawing over 1 lakh in most seats.

In a severe setback to Raj Thackeray, his Maharashtra Navnirman Sena put up an abysmal electoral showing, becoming the only major political party in the state to get lesser votes than what it drew in 2009. In absolute numbers, all other major parties have polled more number of votes than in 2009.

The party also failed in its endevour to spoil the electoral prospects of the Shiv Sena against whom it had put up candidates in eight seats, all of which were won by the Shiv Sena. In 2009, the MNS had contested 11 seats and garnered 15.03 lakh votes. This time, even though the total number of votes polled in the state grew by 31 per cent, the MNS, which contested 10 seats, saw its total votes go down to 7.01 lakh (till 7.30 pm).

In 2009, it did not manage to win a single seat but played a major role in defeating Sena-BJP nominees who lost by a margin of 3,000-50,000 votes with the MNS drawing over 1 lakh in most seats. This had led to the defeat of 10 Shiv-BJP nominees.

This time around, the MNS managed to cross the 1-lakh mark in only one seat — Bhiwandi. In nine places, the MNS was in third place while in Yavatmal, it was fourth.

The performance of the party has come as a shock to senior leaders, including party chief Raj Thackeray who remained huddled at home . Senior MNS leaders are likely to meet on Saturday to look into the party’s electoral performance.

Zeeshan Shaikh

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