Tan: Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) launched its assembly poll campaign with a ‘public sabha’ at Dombivali in Thane district, a stronghold of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, on Monday.

It is noteworthy that Raj Thackeray did not field candidates in 10 constituencies in support of the Mahayuti alliance. In Kalyan Gramin, his party’s Raju Patil is pitted against Rajesh More of Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Subhash Bhoir of Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT).

Although on Mahayuti’s side, Raj strangely attacked Uddhav and Shinde for the bitter fight over the Shiv Sena legacy. He said the party name and ‘bow and arrow’ symbol belonged to Balasaheb Thackeray and were not the property of any of the warring parties.

Claiming that the state was insulted due to divisions in parties and MLAs switching sides to come to power, the MNS chief said voters should think carefully before exercising their right to vote.

Raj said his candidate Raju Patil is not for sale and will remain loyal to MNS. “Majha Raju Bikau nahi, Tikau aahe,” he lashed.

“Your vote should not be insulted. “No one knows whether a candidate is part of Mahayuti or Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA),” he said. “Eknath Shinde was against Ajit Pawar when he was in MVA, but he embraced him for the sake of power with the BJP. These politicians accepted the voters as they were, knowing that no harm would come to them. “Vote for MNS for the betterment of the state,” he said.

Attacking Uddhav Thackeray for allegedly reneging on the BJP’s promise of sharing the chief ministership (after the 2019 assembly elections), the MNS chief asked why he did not object to Devendra Fadnavis being announced as the CM candidate at a rally attended by the Prime Minister. Narendra Modi.

Uddhav claimed that by joining hands with the Congress and the (undivided) NCP, Balasaheb Thackeray had abolished the title of ‘Hinduhridaysamrat’.