Is Raj Thackeray set to make a cameo at Modi's Mumbai rally?

Mumbai: Even as the BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi readies to address a rally in Mumbai this evening, leaders from local ally Shiv Sena are curious to see whether he will speak about Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray’s offer of unconditional support to his campaign.

Modi will share a dais with Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray for the first time, just days before the last phase of Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. In all, 19 Lok Sabha constituencies from Mumbai and north Maharashtra will go to polls on 24 April.

The MNS has fielded 10 candidates, 8 against Shiv Sena candidates, for the Lok Sabha election in Maharashtra, which is likely to divide the Marathi votes, like in 2009. In 2009, MNS candidates in the six constituencies of Mumbai polled over 1 lakh votes, damaging the chances of Shiv Sena-BJP candidates and helping the Congress-NCP combine win all of them.

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had openly expressed his displeasure over BJP leader Nitin Gadkari and MNS chief Raj Thackeray meeting before elections and criticised Raj’s declaration of support for Modi.

But talking about Raj, the Shiv Sena now believes, could help its chances in the upcoming poll.

“We hope that Modiji will speak on MNS chief Raj Thackeray on his support to him. If he speaks on Raj, it will help to prevent BJP activists voting for MNS and dividing the votes,” a Sena leader said on condition of anonymity.

The leader insists that it will also reaffirm the Shiv Sena’s position as an old ally of the BJP.

The rather open spat between the Shiv Sena and BJP started after the BJP leader Nitin Gadkari’s meeting with MNS chief in last month. Gadkari had asked Raj not to field candidates for Lok Sabha election. The Shiv Sena had criticised the meeting with MNS chief and also threatened to cut its alliance with BJP.

BJP president Rajnath Singh had attempted to placate its ally and accused Raj of trying to cash in on Modi’s popularity by supporting him. Singh suggested that he either join the NDA or merge his party with BJP.

Now, all that remains to be seen is whether Modi will rake up the topic during his rally at the rally in the evening.