• Raj Thackeray's party demands 20 seats from BJP for Maharashtra Assembly polls

    National
    Raj Thackeray's party demands 20 seats from BJP for Maharashtra Assembly polls
    MNS has initiated discussions with the BJP regarding the allocation of seats for the approaching assembly polls. 

    Digital Desk: Empowered by the NDA's triumph in the recent Lok Sabha elections, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray, a supporter of the Mahayuti alliance in the state, now sets his sights on making an impact in the forthcoming assembly elections.

    MNS has commenced discussions with the BJP regarding the allocation of seats for the approaching assembly polls. The party has put forward a request for 20 assembly seats in the state, predominantly focusing on Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

    Among the seats sought by MNS are Worli, Dadar-Mahim, Sewree, Magathane, Dindoshi, Jogeshwari, Versova, Ghatkopar West, Chembur, Thane, Bhiwandi Rural, Kalyan Rural, Nashik East, Vani, Pandharpur, Aurangabad Central, and one seat in Pune.

    Raj Thackeray intends to challenge the dominance of the Shiv Sena (UBT). Sources indicate that MNS is likely to field Sandeep Deshpande, a trusted aide, against Aditya Thackeray, the nephew of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, in the Worli assembly constituency.

    Meanwhile, Nitin Sardesai from MNS is slated to contest from Dadar-Mahim, and Shalini Thackeray from Versova.

    However, in preparation for the upcoming legislative council polls scheduled for June 26, the MNS is gearing up to contest against the BJP.

    The party has nominated Marathi filmmaker and party leader Abhijit Panse as their candidate from the Konkan Graduates' constituency for the impending election.