Raj Thackeray In Mahayuti Government? Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Says 'Views Match'

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has said he wants to include MNS chief Raj Thackeray in his government, despite their electoral contests during the assembly elections.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and MNS chief Raj Thackeray.

Source : PTI

In a twist to the Maharashtra government formation, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that he wanted to include MNS chief Raj Thackeray in his government. His remarks came a day after he told ABP News that the Mahayuti was facing a "problem of plenty", which was causing a delay in declaring the Cabinet.

Fadnavis, during a TV interview, said that candidates from Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena got a good number of votes in the assembly elections, despite fighting against the Bharatiya Janata Party. "Our views are similar to a great extent. We are definitely interested in keeping him in the government... Wherever possible, we shall take him along in the municipal elections." "Raj Thackeray openly supported us in the Lok Sabha elections. We benefitted from that," he added.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on MNS and Raj Thackeray pic.twitter.com/rrmw80exzR

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Before the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the BJP had extended support to a few MNS candidates, including Raj Thackeray's son Amit Thackeray in Mahim. Fadnavis had then said that Raj Thackeray walked the path of Hindutva and hence, the BJP was supporting him.

However, an agreement on seat-sharing could not be reached with Raj Thackeray and the Mahayuti ended up contesting against the MNS in several constituencies. Raj Thackeray's MNS, on the other hand, was reduced to its worst show ever in elections, failing to secure any seat.

In fact, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is at risk of losing its status as a recognised political party and its railway engine poll symbol after its dismal performance in the recently concluded state assembly election, where it failed to win even one seat. In the elections swept by the Mahayuti, none of the 125 candidates fielded by the Raj Thackeray-led party, including his son Amit Thackeray, could strike gold.

To maintain recognition, a party must either win at least one seat and secure 8 per cent of the total vote share, or win two seats with 6 per cent votes, or win three seats with 3 per cent votes.

With zero MLAs, the only way Raj Thackeray's MNS could join the Mahayuti government is via the Legislative Council.