Pune: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), once a significant political force in Pune and the party that secured an MLA from the Khadakwasla constituency in its inaugural assembly election, is currently facing challenges as it finds itself without candidates in that very constituency as well as another.
This situation reflects the waning influence of MNS in Pune, which once saw 29 of its corporators elected during the 2012 municipal elections.
The MNS, founded by Raj Thackeray in 2006 following his split from Shiv Sena, initially gained momentum and secured 13 MLAs in its first state assembly election.
Among these, Khadakwasla was a key constituency, represented by the late Ramesh Wanjale. However, internal disputes and a tendency to remain "neutral" over the years have gradually weakened the party’s presence.
Consequently, MNS has fluctuated in its political alliances, sometimes supporting coalitions in Lok Sabha elections and contesting only a limited number of seats in state assembly polls.
In the recent Lok Sabha elections held in May, Raj Thackeray extended unconditional support to Mahayuti candidates. However, MNS decided to contest the upcoming assembly elections independently.
According to MNS leaders, "the state’s people are dissatisfied with both the Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi alliances. MNS stands as a viable alternative in this context. The current electoral battle is between the public and the past and present rulers, and MNS has the potential to succeed if it contests this fight."
Despite this optimism, MNS currently struggles to find capable candidates for several constituencies.
At present, MNS has prioritized focus on Kasba, Kothrud, Shivajinagar, Parvati, Hadapsar, and Pune Cantonment constituencies. For Wadgaon Sheri and Khadakwasla—the constituency that gave MNS its first MLA—the party is considering external candidates, with local officials actively searching for suitable contenders.
MNS officials have also claimed that numerous prominent leaders from both the Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi are in touch with the party. For areas where the party lacks suitable candidates, the leadership has communicated to senior officials the possibility of inducting leaders from other parties into MNS.