Raj Thackeray In Delhi Amid Speculation Of Alliance With NDA For Lok Sabha Polls

Raj Thackeray's trip to Delhi comes at a time when Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule are already in the national capital. 

Raj Thackeray is likely to demand two seats -- South Mumbai and Shirdi for his party.

Source : Raj Thackeray \ Facebook

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray is likely to enter the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in the state ahead of Lok Sabha Elections.

Amid the speculations of entry into the NDA alliance, Raj Thackeray on Monday evening arrived in New Delhi.

According to a report in India Today, Thackeray's trip to Delhi comes at a time when Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule are already in the national capital. 

The MNS leader is likely to demand two seats -- South Mumbai and Shirdi for his party.

#WATCH | Delhi: MNS Chief Raj Thackeray reaches Delhi.

(Earlier visuals) pic.twitter.com/wdBwuj232p

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2024

Speaking on the issue, BJP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had refused to comment anything on the matter.

“Today, I cannot say anything about it officially....if any decision is taken, we will let you know,” Fadnavis was quoted by PTI as saying.

Last month, three MNS leaders met Fadnavis at his residence for discussions on a possible alliance. The MNS leaders also met chief minister Eknath Shinde.

Raj Thackeray, who split from Shiv Sena founded by his uncle Bal Thackeray in 2005, had said his party would decide its strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Thackeray, the estranged cousin of former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, has been in opposition in Maharashtra for a long time. 

'MVA List To Be Out Soon'

 

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Monday said the list of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates for Lok Sabha elections will be out in the next two to three days.

He also said the Congress has decided to field Vishal Patil from the Sangli parliamentary constituency.

Patole said Rahul Gandhi spoke about crucial issues concerning women and youth at the INDIA bloc rally on Sunday but the BJP is trying to divert the people's attention from these points.

Elections for the 18th Lok Sabha will begin on April 19 and votes will be counted on June 4. Maharashtra, which has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second highest after Uttar Pradesh's 80, will vote in five phases.