Raj Thackeray Announces MNS Candidates for Upcoming Maharashtra Elections

MNS chief Raj Thackeray announced candidates for two Maharashtra assembly seats. Bala Nandgaonkar will contest in Shivadi, Mumbai, and Dilip Dhotre in Pandharpur. Thackeray discussed housing issues with CM Eknath Shinde, and plans to contest 200-250 seats independently in the upcoming elections.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Monday declared the candidates for two assembly seats in the forthcoming state elections. Bala Nandgaonkar is set to run for the Shivadi Assembly constituency in Mumbai, while Dilip Dhotre will vie for the Pandharpur seat.

Earlier, on August 3, Thackeray met with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to discuss a range of public issues and housing projects. The Chief Minister's Office released a statement saying, 'Raj Thackeray met CM Eknath Shinde with the MNS delegation on various issues related to housing, including the redevelopment of BDD chawl and the police housing colony, as well as several other projects.' Several senior Maharashtra government officials were in attendance at the meeting.

Thackeray had previously announced on July 25 his intent to field candidates in 200 to 250 seats independently in the upcoming assembly elections. In the 2019 elections, the MNS managed to win only one seat. During the recent Lok Sabha polls, the MNS supported the BJP. Meanwhile, the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance saw significant success, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) winning seven seats, Congress securing 13, and the NCP-SP getting one, bringing the alliance's total to 17 seats. The 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections are slated for later this year, though the Election Commission of India has yet to announce the official dates.

(With inputs from agencies.)