By Tejas Navale
Pune, November 29, 2024: In the aftermath of a crushing defeat in the recently concluded Maharashtra Assembly elections, where the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) failed to win a single seat, party chief Raj Thackeray has swiftly shifted focus to post-election introspection. The MNS, which contested 125 seats across the state, was left grappling with the reasons behind its dismal performance.
On Thursday, Raj Thackeray held a party meeting in Pune with party leaders, activists, and all 82 candidates, excluding Mubai and Thane, to analyse the electoral outcome and strategize a way forward. Addressing his cadres, Thackeray urged them not to lose morale and instead focus on identifying issues within the election process, including alleged irregularities with electronic voting machines (EVMs). He instructed them to gather evidence of any discrepancies and submit detailed reports in writing.
Prominent MNS leaders, including Pune city president Sainath Babar, Ganesh Bhokre, Babu Vagaskar, and others, attended the meeting. During the discussion, candidates pointed out the lack of sufficient public meetings featuring Raj Thackeray in their constituencies, which they believed impacted voter turnout for the party. Some candidates also expressed doubts about the credibility of the EVMs, hinting at possible manipulation.
After an hour-long deliberation, Thackeray left for Mumbai without addressing the media, leaving speculation rife about his next move. MNS leader Babu Vagaskar later briefed reporters, saying, “Raj Thackeray has taken note of all the feedback and instructed us to document any complaints about the election process or EVM irregularities in writing. Evidence will be collected and presented to him, after which further action will be taken as per his directives.”
Vagaskar added, “The way the election results unfolded raises questions about the EVMs. However, Raj Thackeray will soon address the public to clarify his stance and outline the party’s course of action.”
