Maharashtra Navnirman Sena
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Leader | Raj Thackeray |
Chairman | Raj Thackeray |
Founded | 9 March 2006 |
Headquarters | 2nd Fl, Matoshri Towers, Shivaji Park, Mumbai |
Student wing | Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena |
Women's wing | Maharashtra Navnirman Mahila Sena |
Labour wing | Maharashtra Navnirman Kamgar Sena, Maharashtra Navnirman Rail Sena, Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Karmachari Sena, Maharashtra Navnirman Rajya Parivahan Sena, Maharashtra Navnirman Hawai Karmachari |
Ideology | Marathi nationalism, Regionalism |
International affiliation | None |
Colours | Deep Saffron |
ECI Status | State Party[1] |
Election symbol | |
MNS Election Symbol | |
Website | |
www | |
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र नवनिर्माण सेना) or MaNaSe (Marathi: मनसे) or MNS is a political party based in Maharashtra operating on the motto of "Sons of the Soil". It was founded on the March 9, 2006 in Mumbai by Raj Thackeray after he left the Shiv Sena due to differences with Uddhav Thackeray and sidelining in major decisions like distribution of election tickets.
Foundation
The party was founded by Raj Thackeray, nephew of Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray. Raj Thackeray resigned from his uncle's party in January 2006 and announced his intention to start a new political party. The reason given by him for breaking away from the Shiv Sena was that the latter was "run by petty clerks" because of which it had "fallen from its former glory". Also Mr. Thackeray had a clear motive of building political awareness for the development related issues of the state and giving them a center stage in national politics.
At the time of the party's foundation, Raj Thackeray stated that he does not want to have hostilities with his uncle who "was, is and always will be (his) mentor".
Although the MNS is a break-away group from the Sena, the party is still based on Marathi and Bhumiputra ideologies. When unveiling the party in an assembly at Shivaji Park he said, that everyone is anxious to see what will happen to Hindutva.[2] When unveiling, he also said, "I shall elaborate on the party's stance on issues like Sons Of Soil and Marathi, its agenda for development of Maharashtra and the significance of the party flag colours at the March 19 public meeting."[3]
MNS Got 13 seats in Vidhan Sabha out of 288 seats. Raj Thackeray considers himself an Indian nationalist (not just a regionalist) and claims that the Congress is two-faced.[4] The party also recognizes secularism as one of its core tenets.[5]
Elected representatives
Performance in the Maharashtra municipal elections, 2012.
Municipal Corporation | Elected (Out of) |
---|---|
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation | 28 (227) |
Thane Municipal Corporation | 7 (130) |
Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation | 1 (78) |
Pune Municipal Corporation | 29 (152) |
Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation | 4 (128) |
Nashik Municipal Corporation | 40 (122) |
Akola Municipal Corporation | 1 (73) |
Amravati Municipal Corporation | 0 (87) |
Nagpur Municipal Corporation | 2 (145) |
MNS won 13 assembly seats (out of 288) in the 2009 assembly elections Maharashtra. These include 6 in Mumbai,2 in Thane, 3 in Nashik,1 in Pune and 1 in Kannad(Aurangabad) and remain at 2nd spot at more than 24 places. This result (4.5% seats) makes MNS, fourth in largest party in Maharashra assembly after Congress-NCP(144 seats), BJP-Shiv-Sena(90 seats), Third Front(14 seats).[7]
Political support
The MNS has received support from local Marathi speaking Muslim community of Umarkhadi and Dongri areas of Mumbai.[8] Many actors from Marathi Cinema, like Nana Patekar, Ashok Saraf, Prashant Damle, Kuldeep Pawar and Mohan Joshi have come out in support of "sons of the soil" theory put forth by the MNS.[9] The Jharkhand Disom Party has also lent support to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's agitations against North Indians in Maharashtra.[10]
Student wing: Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena
Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS) is a student wing of the party with a large number of college-going youth. Its the only student wing to have separate girls, cultural and sports cells. It is headed by Aditya Rajan Shirodkar, the son of lawyer and Raj Thackeray's business partner Rajan Shirodkar, Archit Jaykar (son of Bollywood actress Smita Jaykar) and Gajanan Kale are general secretaries.[11] MNS also organizes blood donation camps.[12] The MNS holds two Guinness World Records for holding the worlds largest photo exhibition in association with Milind Verlekar[13][14] depicting forts in and around Maharashtra and for holding the largest exhibition of Marathi books and literature where Sachin Tendulkar recited a poem in memory of his father in front of a live audience.
Other activities
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/MNS_ambulance.jpg/200px-MNS_ambulance.jpg)
MNS organizes functions to promote Marathi literature.[15] MNS also holds training workshops for youths to work in retail industry under its child organization Navnirman Academy of Retail Industries.
Controversies
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/SHIVAJI_PARK_3_MAY.jpg/200px-SHIVAJI_PARK_3_MAY.jpg)
In February 2008, some MNS activists clashed with Samajwadi Party (SP) party workers in Mumbai when SP supporters attended a rally at Shivaji Park, Dadar, Mumbai, a stronghold of MNS, where SP leader, Abu Asim Azmi made a fiery speech. After the clashes, 73 MNS activists and 19 SP workers were arrested by Mumbai Police for indulging in violence.[16]
Prominent Indian national news channel News 24/7 carried a show accusing Maharashtra navnirman sena and its chief Raj Thackarey of promoting secessionism and separating Maharashtra from India.
See also
References
- ^ "Political Parties And Election Symbols" (PDF). eci.nic.in. Retrieved 2011-12-28.
- ^ P. 1048 Indian Political Parties Annual, 2006 By Mahendra Gaur.
- ^ "Raj Thackeray launches new party", Press Trust of India - Updated: Thursday, March 09, 2006 at 1914 hours IST
- ^ P. 1048 Indian Political Parties Annual, 2006 By Mahendra Gaur
- ^ "Objectives and Policies". Manase.org. Retrieved 2009-11-15.
- ^ . State Election Commission Maharashtra https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AsTha_h2wXTSdGJOM3lBaGdPamkwalVIaHJtOEZ4Z0E&gid=0. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
{{cite news}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ "Maharashtra Election Results, Maharashtra Election Results 2009". Sify.com. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ "Raj Thackeray finds support in Mumbai's Muslims". Indian Express. November 18, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
- ^ "Marathi actors back Raj". Deccan Herald. March 4, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-22. [dead link]
- ^ "JDP supports Raj Thackeray". Chennai, India: The Hindu. February 6, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
- ^ "Politicians forge ties with youth". The Economic Times. NASSCOM. September 13, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
- ^ "MNS supporters celebrate Raj Thackeray's birthday". DNA India. June 14, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
- ^ "British Smiles Break Guinness World Record". PhotographyBLOG. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "Tendulkar dons poet's hat". Rediff. October 30, 2007. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
{{cite news}}
:|first=
missing|last=
(help) - ^ MNS leader Shishir Shinde detained: Report
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)