Maharashtra Navnirman Sena
Encyclopedia
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is a political party based in Maharashtra
operating on the motto of "Sons of the Soil". It was founded on the March 9, 2006 in Mumbai
by Raj Thackeray
after he left the Shiv Sena
due to differences with Uddhav Thackeray
and sidelining in major decisions like distribution of election tickets.
leader Bal Thackeray
. Raj Thackeray resigned from his uncle's party in January 2006 and announced his intention to start a new political party. The reason given by him for breaking away from the Shiv Sena was that the latter was "run by petty clerks" because of which it had "fallen from its former glory". Also Mr. Thackeray had a clear motive of building political awareness for the development related issues of the state and giving them a center stage in national politics.
At the time of the party's foundation, Raj Thackeray stated that he does not want to have hostilities with his uncle who "was, is and always will be (his) mentor".
Although the MNS is a break-away group from the Sena, the party is still based on Marathi
and Bhumiputra ideologies. When unveiling the party in an assembly at Shivaji Park he said, that everyone is anxious to see what will happen to Hindutva. When unveiling, he also said,
"I shall elaborate on the party's stance on issues like Sons Of Soil and Marathi, its agenda for development of Maharashtra and the significance of the party flag colours at the March 19 public meeting."
MNS Got 13 seats in Vidhan Sabha out of 288 seats.
Raj Thackeray considers himself an Indian nationalist (not just a regionalist) and claims that the Congress is two-faced. The party also recognizes secularism
as one of its core tenets.
MNS won 13 assembly seats (out of 288) in the 2009 assembly elections Maharashtra. These include 6 in Mumbai,2 in Thane, 3 in Nashik,1 in Pune and 1 in Kannad(Aurangabad) and remain at 2nd spot at more than 24 places. This result (4.5% seats) makes MNS, fourth in largest party in Maharashra assembly after Congress-NCP(144 seats), BJP-Shiv-Sena(90 seats), Third Front(14 seats).
and Dongri
areas of Mumbai
. Many actors from Marathi Cinema
, like Nana Patekar
, Ashok Saraf
, Prashant Damle
, Kuldeep Pawar
and Mohan Joshi have come out in support of "sons of the soil
" theory put forth by the MNS. The Jharkhand Disom Party
has also lent support to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's agitations against North India
ns in Maharashtra
.
actress Smita Jaykar
and Gajanan Kale are general secretaries . MNS also organizes blood donation camps. The MNS holds two Guinness World records for holding the worlds largest photo exhibition in association with Milind Verlekar depicting forts in and around Maharashtra and of holding the largest exhibition of Marathi books and literature where Sachin Tendulkar
recited a poem in memory of his father in front of a live audience.
MNS organizes functions to promote Marathi literature
. MNS also holds training workshops for youths to work in retail industry under its child organization Navnirman Academy of Retail Industries.
In February 2008, some MNS activists clashed with Samajwadi Party
(SP) party workers in Mumbai when SP supporters attended a rally at Shivaji Park
, Dadar
, Mumbai, a stronghold of MNS, where SP leader, Abu Asim Azmi
made a fiery speech. After the clashes, 73 MNS activists and 19 SP workers were arrested by Mumbai Police
for indulging in violence.
Prominent Indian national news channel News 24/7 carried an show accusing Maharashtra navnirman sena and its chief Raj Thackarey of promoting secessionism and separating Maharashtra from India.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
operating on the motto of "Sons of the Soil". It was founded on the March 9, 2006 in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
by Raj Thackeray
Raj Thackeray
Raj Shrikant Thackeray is the founder and president of the right-wing Marathi ethnocentric regional political party, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in the state of Maharashtra, India...
after he left the Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena , is a political party in India founded on 19 June 1966 by Balasaheb Thackeray. It is currently headed by Thackeray's son, Uddhav Thackeray...
due to differences with Uddhav Thackeray
Uddhav Thackeray
Uddhav Thackeray is the executive president of the Shiv Sena, a right wing, Marathi ethnocentric regional political party based in the Indian state of Maharashtra...
and sidelining in major decisions like distribution of election tickets.
Foundation
The party was founded by Raj Thackeray, nephew of Shiv SenaShiv Sena
Shiv Sena , is a political party in India founded on 19 June 1966 by Balasaheb Thackeray. It is currently headed by Thackeray's son, Uddhav Thackeray...
leader Bal Thackeray
Bal Thackeray
Bal Keshav Thackeray , popularly known as Balasaheb Thackeray, is an Indian politician, founder and chief of the Shiv Sena, a right-wing Hindu nationalist, and Marathi ethnocentric party active mainly in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.Born in Pune, Thackeray began his professional career...
. Raj Thackeray resigned from his uncle's party in January 2006 and announced his intention to start a new political party. The reason given by him for breaking away from the Shiv Sena was that the latter was "run by petty clerks" because of which it had "fallen from its former glory". Also Mr. Thackeray had a clear motive of building political awareness for the development related issues of the state and giving them a center stage in national politics.
At the time of the party's foundation, Raj Thackeray stated that he does not want to have hostilities with his uncle who "was, is and always will be (his) mentor".
Although the MNS is a break-away group from the Sena, the party is still based on Marathi
Marathi people
The Marathi people or Maharashtrians are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, that inhabit the Maharashtra region and state of western India. Their language Marathi is part of the southern group of Indo-Aryan languages...
and Bhumiputra ideologies. When unveiling the party in an assembly at Shivaji Park he said, that everyone is anxious to see what will happen to Hindutva. When unveiling, he also said,
"I shall elaborate on the party's stance on issues like Sons Of Soil and Marathi, its agenda for development of Maharashtra and the significance of the party flag colours at the March 19 public meeting."
MNS Got 13 seats in Vidhan Sabha out of 288 seats.
Raj Thackeray considers himself an Indian nationalist (not just a regionalist) and claims that the Congress is two-faced. The party also recognizes secularism
Secularism
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
as one of its core tenets.
Elected representatives
Since the party's foundation in 2006, 5 Municipal Corporations have seen elected representatives of MNS.| Municipal Corporation | Elected |
|---|---|
| Pune Municipal Corporation Pune Municipal Corporation The Pune Municipal Corporation was established on 15 February 1950. The PMC controls the whole administration of Pune. The executive power of the corporation is vested in the Municipal Commissioner, an Indian Administrative Service officer appointed by the Maharashtra state government... |
8 |
| Nashik Municipal Corporation Nashik Municipal Corporation Nashik ) is a city in Maharashtra, India. Nashik is located in the northwest of Maharashtra, 180 km from Mumbai and 202 km from Pune. Nashik is the administrative headquarters of Nashik district and Nashik Division... |
12 |
| BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) | 7 |
| Thane Municipal Corporation Thane Municipal Corporation The Thane Municipal Corporation is the governing body of the city of Thane in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The municipal corporation consists of democratically-elected members, is headed by a mayor and administers the city's infrastructure, public services and police... |
3 |
| Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation | 27 |
MNS won 13 assembly seats (out of 288) in the 2009 assembly elections Maharashtra. These include 6 in Mumbai,2 in Thane, 3 in Nashik,1 in Pune and 1 in Kannad(Aurangabad) and remain at 2nd spot at more than 24 places. This result (4.5% seats) makes MNS, fourth in largest party in Maharashra assembly after Congress-NCP(144 seats), BJP-Shiv-Sena(90 seats), Third Front(14 seats).
Political support
The MNS has received support from local Marathi speaking Muslim community of UmarkhadiUmarkhadi
Umarkhadi is an area in South Mumbai near Byculla and Pydhone.St. Joseph's Parish is a famous parish in Umarkhadi. There is a white cross in this church compound. Since the evening of Sunday 8th November 2009 the cross has started dripping water ....
and Dongri
Dongri
-See also:*Dongri Fort...
areas of Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. Many actors from Marathi Cinema
Marathi cinema
Marathi cinema refers to films produced in the Marathi language in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is the oldest and pioneer film industry in India...
, like Nana Patekar
Nana Patekar
Vishwanath "Nana" Patekar is an Indian actor and filmmaker.-Biography:Born Vishwanath Patekar in Murud-Janjira, Maharashtra, to Dinkar Patekar and his wife Sanjanabai Patekar. He is an alumnus of the Sir J.J...
, Ashok Saraf
Ashok Saraf
Ashok Saraf is an Indian actor and comedian. He has appeared in many Hindi and Marathi movies for since the late 1960s.Ashok Saraf is known mainly for comedy movies, many of which he appeared in with Laxmikant Berde...
, Prashant Damle
Prashant Damle
Prashant Damle is a versatile Marathi actor who has acted in numerous Marathi dramas, movies and television serials for over 15 years. His drama Gela Madhav Kunikade set records by having more than 1200 performances over a period of 15 years, and is still running.He is very enthusiastic, with a...
, Kuldeep Pawar
Kuldeep Pawar
Kuldeep Pawar is an actor in the Marathi language film industry of India. He is from Maharashtra province.-Some Kuldeep Pawar Films:* Mardani * Gupchup Gupchup * Gosht Dhamal Namyachi...
and Mohan Joshi have come out in support of "sons of the soil
Jus sanguinis
Ius sanguinis is a social policy by which citizenship is not determined by place of birth, but by having a parent who are citizens of the nation...
" theory put forth by the MNS. The Jharkhand Disom Party
Jharkhand Disom Party
Jharkhand Disom Party is a political party in India. The party works for the rights of the adivasi peoples. For example the party works for more quotas and reservations for adivasis...
has also lent support to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's agitations against North India
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
ns in Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
.
Student Wing (Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena)
Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS) is an Student wing of the Party with a large number of college going youth . Its the only students wing to have a separate Girls, Cultural and Sports cell. It is headed by Aditya Rajan Shirodkar, the son of lawyer and Raj Thackeray's business parter Rajan Shirodkar, While Archit Jaykar son of BollywoodBollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
actress Smita Jaykar
Smita Jaykar
Smita Jaykar is an Indian actress known in her native country for frequently playing supporting roles in Bollywood movies and TV shows.A native of the Thakurdwar neighbourhood in South Mumbai, she is a Maharashtrian whose husband, Mohan Jaykar, is the son of esteemed Marathi barrister Barr Jaykar...
and Gajanan Kale are general secretaries . MNS also organizes blood donation camps. The MNS holds two Guinness World records for holding the worlds largest photo exhibition in association with Milind Verlekar depicting forts in and around Maharashtra and of holding the largest exhibition of Marathi books and literature where Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is an Indian cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket. He is the leading run-scorer and century maker in Test and one-day international cricket. He is the only male player to score a double century in the history of ODI cricket...
recited a poem in memory of his father in front of a live audience.
Other activities
Marathi literature
Marathi literature is the body of literature of Marathi, a Sanskrit-derived language spoken mainly in the Indian state of Maharashtra and written in the Devanagari script.-Early Marathi Literature :...
. MNS also holds training workshops for youths to work in retail industry under its child organization Navnirman Academy of Retail Industries.
Controversies
In February 2008, some MNS activists clashed with Samajwadi Party
Samajwadi Party
Samajwadi Party is a political party in India. It is based in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It describes itself as a democratic socialist party...
(SP) party workers in Mumbai when SP supporters attended a rally at Shivaji Park
Shivaji Park
Shivaji Park is the largest park in Mumbai. It is situated in the Dadar area of Mumbai. Like the Azad Maidan and August Kranti Maidan , it is of historical and cultural value because of the political and social gatherings it has witnessed, both in pre- and post-independence Mumbai.-Geography:The...
, Dadar
Dadar
Dadar is a place in Mumbai, and is also a railway station on both the Western and Central lines of the Mumbai Suburban Railway network. Dadar is situated in the heart of Mumbai, and Dadar station is the only railway station common to both the Central and Western lines...
, Mumbai, a stronghold of MNS, where SP leader, Abu Asim Azmi
Abu Asim Azmi
Abu Asim Azmi born 8 August 1955, is the state president of Maharashtra Samajwadi Party. He represented Uttar Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament from November 2002- Nov 2008....
made a fiery speech. After the clashes, 73 MNS activists and 19 SP workers were arrested by Mumbai Police
Mumbai Police
The Mumbai Police is the police force of the city of Mumbai, India. It has the primary responsibilities of law enforcement and investigation within the limits of Mumbai. The department's motto is ""...
for indulging in violence.
Prominent Indian national news channel News 24/7 carried an show accusing Maharashtra navnirman sena and its chief Raj Thackarey of promoting secessionism and separating Maharashtra from India.