MNS to go solo in Maharashtra Assembly elections

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS Chief Raj Thackeray on Thursday announced his intention to contest 200 to 250 seats independently in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections reported news agency ANIIn a sharp criticism of the states administration Thackeray challenged the financial feasibility of the Mahayuti alliances plansHe remarked The Maharashtra government lacks the funds to repair potholes How will they find the money for Laadki Bahin and Laadka Bhau reported ANIHe further commented on the internal conflicts within the Nationalist Congress Party NCP saying If both Laadka Bhau and Bahin were happy together then the party wouldnt have splitHighlighting the confusion within the current political landscape Thackeray stated One could not make out which MLA is in which party In upcoming polls there will be a rumble fight amongst these parties reported ANIThackeray also addressed speculations of defections within his party I heard some of them from my party also want to join someone I lay a red carpet for them They can go immediately he said reported ANISome candidates will be ready to extort money from other parties This will not be tolerated Tickets will be given only based on credibility and winnability he assertedIn preparation for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections Thackeray revealed that the MNS has been conducting surveys across districts There is a trend of surveys these days So even I had appointed 4 to 5 members for each district to conduct surveys They spoke to the prominent people and journalists in these areas Now this team will come again for a second round to talk to you Give them genuine feedback he said reported ANIThackeray announced that he will begin a Maharashtra tour starting August 1 to engage in detailed discussions with party workers and supportersWe will fight 200 to 250 seats in upcoming assembly polls At any cost I want to make my party worker sit in power I want you to work hard for the upcoming polls he said reported ANIIn the 2019 Assembly election the MNS only won 1 seat During the recent Lok Sabha polls the MNS supported the BJP Elections to the 288member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly are scheduled to be held later this year with the tenure of the current state assembly ending in 2024 However the Election Commission of India has yet to announce the dates for the Maharashtra Assembly electionsIn the recent parliamentary elections Congress emerged as the largest party in the state with 13 Lok Sabha MPs and along with Shiv Sena UBTs 9 and the NCP Pawars 8 MPs Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA won 30 seats out of the total number of 48 constituencies in MaharashtraWith inputs from ANI