Raj Thackeray says Shiv Sena playing double game, announces MNS will contest BMC polls

Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday announced that his party would contest the municipal corporation elections in the state, including in Mumbai.

Earlier, speculations were rife that the MNS would not contest the Mumbai civic body (BMC) elections.

On Tuesday, Shiv Sena had turned down his offer of a tie-up. Notably, Raj had separated from Shiv Sena a decade ago to form his own party, MNS.

Addressing the party workers, Raj alleged that the ruling BJP wanted to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra. He also alleged that though Shiv Sena and BJP were contesting the BMC elections separately, they would come together post-polls.

He sought votes for "saving Mumbai for Marathi people".

"I called Uddhav (Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray) seven times...but he did not respond...The issue of an alliance is over for me...," said Raj.

"I had made an offer to Shiv Sena only to protect the interests of Marathi people in this city. But the party is playing a double game by contesting the local elections on its own but sharing power (with BJP) at the Centre and the state.”

"I think BJP and Shiv Sena are enacting a drama of contesting BMC elections separately and will form an alliance after the results," Raj said.

A similar drama was seen in last year's Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation elections, where both the parties came together after the polls to share the power, he said.

"I have been fighting for the cause of Marathi people and that is why I am targeted. If needed, I am ready to kowtow to anybody in the interests of Marathi people," he said.

"Shiv Sena does not want to lose the Mayor's bungalow, which has been identified as the location for the memorial of the late Balasaheb Thackeray. The party fears if it separates from BJP in the state, the latter may sit on the memorial proposal. My intention behind joining hands with Shiv Sena was clear and it was to oppose BJP," Raj Thackeray said.

The BJP nursed secret plans to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra, and Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train proposal was a part of this conspiracy, he said, adding that the conspiracy would materialise if the people in the city did not oppose it.

(With PTI inputs)