From the Rise of MNS to the MNS-Shivsena UBT Alliance

Abstract: India is a country with unity in diversity and has the world’s largest parliamentary democratic system of governance. In a democratic system, political parties hold special importance. It is almost impossible to imagine a democratic system of governance without political parties. Currently, there are 2,593 political parties in India. Of these, 6 are national parties, 67 are regional parties, and 2,520 are registered political parties. In a democratic system, majority holds special significance. Since the 1990s, no political party in India has secured a clear majority. As a result, the formation of front or alliance governments by multiple parties at the national level has become a very common occurrence. For Indians, it is no longer unusual to see national and regional parties forming pre-election alliances or fronts to work out the arithmetic of power. Often, national parties are seen allying with regional parties. This has increased the importance of regional parties in national politics. In the case of Maharashtra, the Election Commission of India has primarily recognized two political parties as regional parties: Shivsena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. Among these, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is the significant party. After Raj Thackeray left Shivsena, he founded the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. This party, which emerged in Maharashtra, was granted the status of a regional party by the Election Commission of India in 2010 under the 1968 Act. As a result, it received the permanent symbol of a railway engine. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has given importance to regional identity and the state language in its ideology and policies. It is a party that struggles to advance politically in line with its ideology and policies. MNS President Raj Thackeray considers Maharashtra far greater than any dispute or quarrel. Therefore, setting aside all past events, Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray have reconciled for the sake of the existence of the Marathi people and have announced the MNS–Shivsena (UBT) alliance. These developments are likely to have far-reaching effects on Maharashtra’s politics in the future.