Maharashtra Navnirman Sena

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena
Chairperson	Raj Thackeray
Founded	9 March 2006
Headquarters	Mumbai
Newspaper	None
Ideology	Marathi nationalism, regionalism
Website
http://www.manase.org
Politics of India Political parties Elections

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र नवनिर्माण सेना) 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.^[1] 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."^[2]

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.^[3] The party also recognizes secularism as one of its core tenets.^[4]

Elected representatives

Since the party's foundation in 2006, 5 Municipal Corporations have seen elected representatives of MNS.

Municipal Corporation	Elected
Pune Municipal Corporation	8
Nashik Municipal Corporation	12
BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)	7
Thane Municipal Corporation	3
Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation	27
Source: Rediff[5]

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).^[6]

Political support

The MNS has received support from local Marathi speaking Muslim community of Umarkhadi and Dongri areas of Mumbai.^[7] 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.^[8] The Jharkhand Disom Party has also lent support to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's agitations against North Indians in Maharashtra.^[9]

Student Wing (Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena)

Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS) is an Student wing of the Party with a large number of college going youth . Its the only students wing to have a separate Girls, Cultural and Sports cell. It is headed by Aditya Rajan Shirodkar, the son of lawyer and Raj Thackeray's business parter Rajan Shirodkar, While Archit Jaykar son of Bollywood actress Smita Jaykar and Gajanan Kale are general secretaries .^[10] MNS also organizes blood donation camps.^[11] The MNS holds two Guinness World records for holding the worlds largest photo exhibition in association with Milind Verlekar^[12][13] depicting forts in and around Maharashtra and of 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

MNS runs ambulance services.

MNS organizes functions to promote Marathi literature.^[14] MNS also holds training workshops for youths to work in retail industry under its child organization Navnirman Academy of Retail Industries.

Controversies

Rally at Shivaji Park, Mumbai in which Raj spoke out against North Indians.

Main article: 2008 attacks on North Indians in Maharashtra

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.^[15]

Prominent Indian national news channel News 24/7 carried an show accusing Maharashtra navnirman sena and its chief Raj Thackarey of promoting secessionism and separating Maharashtra from India.

See also

• 19 October 2008 All-India Railway Recruitment Board examination attack

References

1. ^ P. 1048 Indian Political Parties Annual, 2006 By Mahendra Gaur.
2. ^ "Raj Thackeray launches new party", Press Trust of India - Updated: Thursday, March 09, 2006 at 1914 hours IST
3. ^ P. 1048 Indian Political Parties Annual, 2006 By Mahendra Gaur
4. ^ "Objectives and Policies". Manase.org. https://www.manase.org/en/maharashtra.php?mid=67&smid=15&id=279. Retrieved 2009-11-15. 
5. ^ "Sena's hat-trick in BMC; Congress suffers setback". Rediff. February 2, 2007. http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/feb/02poll.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-26. 
6. ^ "Maharashtra Election Results, Maharashtra Election Results 2009". Sify.com. http://www.sify.com/news/election/maharashtra-election-results/. Retrieved 2011-08-06. 
7. ^ "Raj Thackeray finds support in Mumbai's Muslims". Indian Express. November 18, 2008. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/raj-thackeray-finds-support-in-Mumbais-muslims/387325/. Retrieved 2008-12-22. 
8. ^ "Marathi actors back Raj". Deccan Herald. March 4, 2008. http://www.deccanherald.com/CONTENT/Mar42008/national2008030355427.asp. Retrieved 2008-12-22. ^{[dead link]}
9. ^ "JDP supports Raj Thackeray". Chennai, India: The Hindu. February 6, 2008. http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200802061762.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-07. 
10. ^ "Politicians forge ties with youth". The Economic Times. NASSCOM. September 13, 2008. http://www.nasscomfoundation.org/index.php/Politicians-forge-ties-with-youth.html. Retrieved 2008-12-22. 
11. ^ "MNS supporters celebrate Raj Thackeray's birthday". DNA India. June 14, 2008. http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1171115. Retrieved 2008-12-22. 
12. ^ "British Smiles Break Guinness World Record". PhotographyBLOG. http://www.photographyblog.com/news/british_smiles_break_guinness_world_record/. Retrieved 2011-08-06. 
13. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
14. ^ "Tendulkar dons poet's hat". Rediff. October 30, 2007. http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2007/oct/30sachin.htm. Retrieved 2008-12-22. 
15. ^ MNS leader Shishir Shinde detained: Report

External links

• Official Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Website
• Official Maharashtra Navnirman Sena student wing Website