Aaditya and Amit Thackeray, political cousins in Maharashtra, have had varied outcomes in the latest assembly elections. While Aaditya managed to win a second term with thanks to his uncle's influence, Amit lost out on his maiden polls and can attribute some of the loss to his own uncle's decision. This highlights the complicated family politics at play in India and the impact it has on election results. The strongholds of Worli and Mahim saw three-way contests, with the MNS's entry proving to be a game-changer. The close margins highlight that a direct face-off between Aaditya and rival Milind Deora or between Mahesh Sawant and Eknath Shinde Sena can produce different results.
In the recent Maharashtra Assembly polls, the Congress-NCP alliance leads in almost 80% of the seats, while the MNS party fails to secure even a single seat. NDA also wins big in Assembly bye-elections, with Trinamool Congress sweeping West Bengal. The Indian media's coverage of the violence in Canada has raised questions about its alignment with Hindutva ideology.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for their stance on the Emergency imposed in 1975. He stated that while the BJP leaders are attacking the Emergency, Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray had openly supported it. Raut defended the imposition of the Emergency, citing possible threats to the country at that time. He also mentioned the recent controversy surrounding the Indian cricket team's victory at the T20 World Cup and his own break from playing.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray announced at the party's annual public rally that they will extend unconditional support to the ruling alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Thackeray stated that their main goal is to ensure Narendra Modi is re-elected as the Prime Minister for a third term. Additionally, he criticized the media and addressed speculations about his meeting with Amit Shah and joining the Shiv Sena, stating that he will remain the president of MNS. The PUC 2 exam results for Karnataka will also be announced on April 10.
With the MNS' potential alliance with BJP hanging in the balance, party chief Raj Thackeray made his second visit to the capital in a week, sparking rumors of a pre-poll tie-up. Sources state that Thackeray will meet with the BJP's top brass, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, to discuss potential collaborations. While the MNS' vote-base in major Maharashtra cities could prove beneficial for the BJP, Thackeray has yet to make any public announcements about his plans.