In BJP-Shiv Sena rift lies a possible opening for MNS

“So far, we have not received any offer from anybody (from Sena or BJP),” Nandgaokar told The Indian Express. “If we do receive any offer for a poll alliance, we are not averse to joining hands with them.”

MNS leaders referred to the bitter war of words between the Thackeray cousins during the Lok Sabha elections and discounted the possibility any approach from Uddhav Thackeray’s party after that. One leader said the possibility of a BJP-led alliance cannot be ruled out as such an effort had been made during the Lok Sabha elections when senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari had met Raj Thackeray to “prevent division of Marathi votes”.

Asked about the possibility of a BJP-led alliance including Swabhimani Paksh and Rashtriya Samaj Paksh, Nandgaokar said, “We are not sure what is happening with the mahayuti. If such an alliance (BJP-led) comes into being, it will certainly be one to reckon with.”

He denied, however, that the MNS is waiting for the alliance to snap so that it can form a new one. “We are not waiting for their alliance to break up. We want to focus on the growth of our party across Maharashtra. So we won’t mind if no alliance emerges,” Nangaokar said. “Look at the BJP-Sena alliance. They claim that they have been together for 25 years. But after 25 years, they are not even able to strike a coordination nor are they in a position to contest the election on their own in all 288 seats.”

So, how many seats does the MNS plan to contest if it goes it alone? “We are ready with a list of 175. We will soon finalise 50 ot 55 more seats. In all, we will be in a position to contest 225 seats,” Nandgaokar said.

Meanwhile, Raju Shetti and Mahadev Jankar both told The Indian Express their parties would contest jointly if the Shiv Sena and the BJP should fail to reach an understanding. They had given the two majors an ultimatum to decide their sharing arrangement by Monday evening.
“If one of these parties decides to form a new alliance, we may consider the possibility of joining it,” said Shetti.  But Jankar added, “We can team up after the elections if no alliance is possible now.”