Slamming other parties and governments for neglecting basic issues, Raj Thackeray announced on Thursday that his party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), would independently contest 225-250 seats in the October Assembly election. He said he wanted MNS in power at any cost and asked party workers to build the party’s campaign around issues that have remained unsolved all these years.

Thackeray’s announcement put to rest the possibility of MNS having a pre-poll alliance with the Mahayuti (NDA). He had extended unconditional support to PM Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha elections, specifying it as a one-off gesture. The solo show of MNS will mean the division of votes of like-minded parties, including both Sena factions, in case they are pitted against each other. There are 288 seats in the state Assembly. In 2009, MNS tasted success winning 13 seats, but failed to improve its performance in the next elections. It has just one MLA in the current House.