THANE: After failing to open its account in the last two general elections, MNS chief Raj Thackeray announced on Sunday that his party would not contest the Lok Sabha polls . An MNS functionary said the party will instead focus on the assembly polls to be held later this year and may consider helping certain NCP candidates in the LS polls.While this has put an end to speculations over MNS fielding candidates, Thackeray’s decision seems to have caused unease among his cadre, with the Shiv Sena and the NCP eyeing the party’s voter base in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region The MNS commands a small following in the MMR. In the 2014 LS polls, its candidates had collectively won four lakh votes in Mumbai-South Central, Mumbai North-West, Thane and Kalyan seats, notwithstanding the fact that all of them had to forfeit their deposits. Thackeray’s appeal prevailed in the assembly elections six months later when the MNS vote count in the MMR exceeded 7 lakh.MNS functionaries were hoping for a poll pact with the NCP and eyeing the Mumbai North-East and Kalyan LS seats—both traditionally contested by NCP.“We were eager to put up a fight against BJP’s Kirit Somaiya and ensure his defeat with support from all parties, including the Sena which has made this seat a prestige issue in its talks with BJP. The constituency has never given a second term to a sitting MP and this time we had a chance. Kalyan too has a strong MNS base. However, the Congress did not want our party on board with them,” an MNS functionary said.However, the MNS decision has brought smiles to the faces of the Sena and NCP. “It is natural that MNS functionaries will have greater affinity to the Sena than the NCP. In fact, ground level talks are already under way in Kalyan and Thane where Sena MPs Dr Shirkant Shinde and Rajan Vichare will battle it out with NCP nominees,’’ a Sena functionary said.Terming Thackeray’s decision “politically prudent” , political analyst said, “The 2019 LS polls does not offer any space for any party not aligned with the BJP-Sena or the Congress-NCP. If you are not in either camp, then there is agenda that will be so persuasive to fetch you votes. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, all the 12 MNS nominees lost their poll deposit. It would not be prudent to expose yourself further and demoralise the party cadre.”

Stay updated with all the Latest Thane headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.