Not only his oratory, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has also adopted his late uncle and Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray’s style of politics. Without contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Raj Thackeray took political centre-stage and became the main talking point in Maharashtra, which went to the polls in the first four phases. When he decided against fielding MNS candidates, Raj Thackeray had clearly taken a leaf out of his late uncle’s book. During the 1980 Lok Sabha elections, Balasaheb Thackeray, in a tactical move, decided against contesting and supported the Congress, then led by late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The BJP campaign has been based on image and perception – that of Modi – and Raj Thackeray has precisely punctured that.

Source: Hindustan Times May 03, 2019 01:59 UTC