Raj Thackeray

MNS President Raj Thackeray blames Uddhav for leaders quitting Shiv Sena

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Wednesday squarely blamed his estranged cousin and former CM Uddhav Thackeray for many Shiv Sena leaders quitting the party and said as chief minister he was not ready to meet anyone during the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing a rally of his party at the Shivaji Park in central Mumbai, the MNS leader blamed Uddhav Thackeray for many Shiv Sena leaders parting ways with him in the past, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and 39 MLAs supporting him, who raised a banner of revolt in June last year. The rally was organised on the occasion of Gudi Padwa, a festival which marks the start of the Marathi New Year. Raj Thackeray said he will renew his campaign to pull down loudspeakers from mosques if the states government does not take any action in the matter. The MNS chief demanded withdrawal of nearly 17,000 cases slapped on his party workers last year when they launched protests seeking removal of loudspeakers from mosques.

Maharashtra court rejects Raj Thackeray's discharge plea in 2008 case

A local court in western Maharashtra's Sangli district on Friday rejected Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's plea seeking discharge in a 2008 case related to a protest organized by his party's workers. MNS workers had staged protest in Shirala in the district against Thackeray's arrest in Mumbai, and a case under IPC sections related to unlawful assembly and breach of peace was registered. The FIR also named Thackeray besides nine others. Assistant public prosecutor Ranjit Patil opposed the discharge plea and stated that it can not be decided till all the witnesses depose. The court upheld his argument, Patil said in a statement here. MNS had staged a state-wide agitation demanding preference for Marathi youth in railway jobs and Thackeray had been arrested over the issue.

MNS president Raj Thackeray slams Rahul Gandhi over Savarkar remark

Coming down hard on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on Veer Savarkar, Maharashtra Navirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Sunday called him 'gadha' (idiot)

Andheri East bypoll:MNS chief thanks Fadnavis after BJP withdraws candidate

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Monday thanked Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the BJP's decision to withdraw its candidate from the bypoll to Andheri East Assembly seat in Mumbai. In a letter written to Fadnavis, Thackeray referred to the senior BJP leader as his dear friend and said it is essential to have a positive political culture. He said the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is always in favour of proliferation of such a positive culture. I am thankful that you responded to this (appeal), Thackeray said. Thackeray had on Sunday written another letter to Fadnavis, asking the ruling BJP to pull out of the bypoll race to show reverence to late Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke, whose death necessitated the byelection. Latke died of cardiac arrest in May this year. BJP's Murji Patel, who withdrew his nomination papers on Monday, was pitted against the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction's candidate Rutuja Latke, the wife of Ramesh Latke. NCP chief Sh

Andheri East assembly bypoll: Raj Thackeray asks BJP not to field nominee

NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday sought the unopposed election of Rutuja Latke, the candidate of the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena, in the November 3 Andheri East Assembly bypoll while MNS president Raj Thackeray appealed to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis not to field BJP's nominee to show reverence to the late MLA Ramesh Latke. The MNS' appeal to Fadnavis and its decision to not contest the bypoll has generated intense political discussion given Raj Thackeray's political rivalry with his cousin Uddhav Thackeray. The late Latke belonged to Shiv Sena. Notably, the last date for withdrawal of the nominations for the bypoll is October 17. Fadnavis said the proposition of Raj Thackeray will be discussed seriously with BJP leaders and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the final decision will be taken only after a discussion with senior leaders in BJP. He also said whenever there was a proper communication or appeal made to BJP, it was responded to ...

Vedanta-Foxconn issue: Was money demanded from firm, asks Raj Thackeray

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Monday sought an inquiry into the state losing the multi-billion dollar Vedanta-Foxconn semiconductor chip manufacturing project to neighbouring Gujarat and asked if any money was demanded from the joint venture firm. He said Maharashtra used to be the leading state in the country when it came to attracting industries but this was changing. "It must be investigated why industries that were supposed to come to Maharashtra have now shifted to other states. Was money demanded from them," he said when queried on the Vedanta-Foxconn political slugfest. Addressing a press conference here, he also rued the political situation in the state over the last few years and said it was tough to understand or guess who would ally with whom to form government. "I have never seen such chaos and cheating in Maharashtra politics. No one knows who is with whom, who is forming government," he said. Attacking former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, the M

Raj Thackeray's MNS toying with idea of going solo at BMC polls

The party is expected to announce its tentative list of candidates for various civic bodies including BMC, NMC and others shortly, Deshpande indicated without giving details

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde visits MNS chief Raj Thackeray's residence

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday met MNS chief Raj Thackeray at the latter's residence in central Mumbai. While an official said that Shinde called on Thackeray on the occasion of Ganesh festival, the meeting led to speculation as it came ahead of the crucial civic polls in Mumbai. Shinde met Raj Thackeray at his new residence 'Shivtirth' in Dadar. The MNS chief, who has been at loggerheads with his cousin and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray for long, had met BJP leaders last month, leading to a buzz that the saffron party may form a tie-up with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena for the Mumbai polls. The BJP is currently in alliance with the Shinde-led faction of the Shiv Sena.

Raj Thackeray backs Nupur Sharma over remarks against Prophet Mohammad

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday supported suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma over her remarks against Prophet Mohammad. Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik had said the same thing earlier but no one asked him to apologise, Thackeray said while addressing a meeting of MNS functionaries here. Nobody asked Naik for an apology, the MNS chief said. Thackeray also slammed the Owaisi brothers (AIMIM leaders) for allegedly ridiculing the names of Hindu gods. No action has been taken against them, he said, using an abusive term while referring to them. The MNS chief also taunted his estranged cousin and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray over the latter's claim that the BJP reneged on the promise of rotating the CM's post after the 2019 Assembly elections in Maharashtra. When I was in Shiv Sena, Balasaheb (Thackeray) had decided that the party having more MLAs will have the CM post, he said. Also, during the election campaign, PM Narendra Mod

Fadnavis visits Raj Thackeray's residence, says meeting not political

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met MNS president Raj Thackeray on Friday. The meeting, which took place at Thackeray's residence in Dadar here, sparked off speculation, especially as it came ahead of civic elections in Mumbai and pending cabinet expansion of the Eknath Shinde-led government in the state. But Fadnavis maintained that it was only a "courtesy visit" for enquiring about Thackeray's health. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief underwent a hip replacement surgery in June. Speaking to reporters later, the BJP leader said there was no need to read much into the meeting. "In Maharashtra, we have a culture of following political etiquette. He was unwell and I paid him a visit. What is so political about it?" Fadnavis said. MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar said he and his party colleagues Nitin Sardesai and Sandeep Deshpande were present when the two leaders met, but later Fadnavis and Thackeray had a separate discussion for over an hour. Fadnavis a

Maharashtra Dy CM Fadnavis meets MNS chief Raj Thackeray in Mumbai

The meeting between the two leaders assumes significance in view of the upcoming elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)

Raj Thackeray lauds Fadnavis, says he has set an example of party loyalty

MNS chief Raj Thackeray said Devendra Fadnavis has set an example of party loyalty and commitment by taking over as deputy chief minister of the state despite being the frontrunner for the top post

Shinde speaks to MNS chief Raj Thackeray about recent political situation

As the political turmoil in Maharashtra continues to unfold, rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shide spoke to MNS chief Raj Thackeray about the recent political situation in the state

Raj Thackeray to hold rally in Pune today amid heavy deployment of police

In a Twitter post, the MNS chief said that he will share more details on his visit to Ayodhya at his rally in Pune on Sunday

MNS chief Raj Thackeray postpones his scheduled visit to Ayodhya

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Friday announced that his visit to Ayodhya scheduled on June 5 has been put off.

Raj Thackeray won't be allowed to enter Ayodhya till he apologises: BJP MP

Opposing Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's proposed visit next month to Ayodhya, BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Tuesday said that he will not be allowed to enter the city till he tendered a public apology for humiliating north Indians.

Raj Thackeray condemns 'derogatory' FB post on Pawar, calls it 'wickedness'

MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday condemned an objectionable Facebook post allegedly shared by Marathi actress Ketaki Chitale targeting NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar

Ready to welcome Raj Thackeray in Ayodhya, says BJP MP Lallu Singh

The MNS chief has announced to visit Ayodhya on June 5 with his supporters to offer prayers at Ram Janmabhoomi

Loudspeaker row: 'Don't test our patience', Raj Thackeray tells Uddhav

Slamming Maha CM Uddhav Thackeray over the loudspeakers-on-mosques president Raj Thackeray on Tuesday cautioned the Shiv Sena-led MVA government against "testing the patience" of his party

Loudspeaker row: Hundreds of MNS workers detained in parts of Maharashtra

In Pune and neighbouring Pimpri Chinchwad, 200 Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers and party functionaries were detained, while 12 party activists were arrested in Thane