Raj Thackeray’s party to contest 25 seats in Mumbai. Will it be a game-changer?

In Mumbai, the upcoming Assembly election has grown even more intense with Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) poised to be a decisive factor across the 36 Assembly seats of the financial capital.
Unlike the Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, MNS did not participate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, instead offering unconditional support to the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
However, MNS’s decision to field candidates across 25 Assembly seats in Mumbai now poses a significant challenge for both the BJP and the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde), who collectively hold the majority in the city.
The BJP is contesting 17 seats in Mumbai, while the Shinde Sena is vying for 16. Notably, MNS has fielded candidates against BJP and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) nominees on 22 of these seats, intensifying competition and raising concerns about a potential split in the vote share for the ruling Mahayuti coalition.
Specifically, MNS is running candidates against 12 Shiv Sena seats led by Eknath Shinde and 10 seats contested by the BJP. In the Sewree constituency, where Mahayuti has not fielded a candidate, MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar is the sole contender with ruling coalition’s support.
The contests in Mumbai’s Mahim and Worli constituencies have already sparked significant interest. Mahim, in particular, has become a battleground, with MNS leader and Raj Thackeray’s Amit Thackeray challenging Sada Sarvankar of the Eknath Shinde’s party setting the stage for a three-way contest.
In Worli, MNS candidate Sandeep Deshpande faces a formidable race against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and Shinde Sena’s Milind Deora.
Despite its widespread contestation, the MNS has strategically chosen not to challenge certain high-profile BJP figures in the city, including Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar (Colaba), Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar (Bandra West), state BJP treasurer Mihir Kotecha (Mulund), and other prominent leaders like Mangal Prabhat Lodha (Malabar Hill).
Key seats contested by the MNS include Mahim, Worli, Magathane, Kurla, Chandivali, Bhandup, and Vikhroli, among others. Analysts believe that any vote shift to MNS in these areas could impact both the Mahayuti and MVA alliances.
The Maharashtra Assembly elections are set for November 20, with vote counting for all 288 constituencies scheduled for November 23.
In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena 56, and the Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP secured 122 seats, the Shiv Sena 63, and the Congress 42.