MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s bid to get even with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde may upset the odds of Shiv Sena in Mumbai North West Lok Sabha constituency. After Thackeray announced his support to Mahayuti, the coalition led by BJP, his party has thrown the proverbial spanner in the works, by expressing staunch opposition to the shortlisted candidates of Sena (Shinde). MNS has objected strongly to fielding Sanjay Nirupam, who recently quit the Congress or Ravindra Waikar, the candidates considered by Sena for the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha seat. MNS support for  the Shiv Sena may appear crucial in Mumbai North West as 37.2 per cent of its voters are Marathi speakers.

Recently, during the Gudi Padwa rally, Thackeray had announced unconditional support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At the rally, the MNS chief revealed that for nearly a year, Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were pursuing him to join hands with them. In fact, the Sena-BJP offered MNS one or two Lok Sabha seats. But, it is reliably learnt that Shinde’s offer came with a string attached—the candidate from MNS would have to contest the Mumbai South seat on the Sena’s bow and arrow symbol.  This did not go well with Thackeray, who refused to take the offer.