Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray will be the first member of the Thackeray family to contest the election. On Saturday, he announced he would contest the Assembly elections in October and will be the party’s chief ministerial candidate.
“If you and me [activists] come together and people decide to trust us, I will lead the State after the elections,” announced Mr. Thackeray in a rally here on Saturday.
Mr. Thackeray was speaking for the first time after the Lok Sabha election. The MNS lost all 10 seats it contested and all its candidates lost their deposits.
After the results, the party leaders have been demanding that Thackeray be their leader for the Chief Minister’s post. While the Shiv Sena did not react to his decision till last reports came in, the BJP welcomed the announcement. “Everyone is welcome to contest elections in a democracy. However. Maharashtra will vote for Mahayuti in the Assembly election,” tweeted Devendra Phadnavis, BJP state president.
