‘Bury the rulers’: After civic poll setback, Raj Thackeray asks corporators to turn municipal houses into ‘battlegrounds’

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray

• Raj Thackeray urges MNS corporators to defend Marathi interests in councils
• Thackeray admits MNS underperformed but remains undeterred by election loss
• MNS to review and address issues after poor civic poll results

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After the high-profile civic elections, Maharashtra Navnirnman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray struck a defiant note, admitting the party’s performance was below expectations but exhorting the newly elected corporators to make municipal houses into battlegrounds against what he described as the “rule of money power” and policies he said were harmful to Marathi interests.

Thackeray, while addressing party workers and supporters, congratulated elected corporators of both the MNS and Shiv Sena, noting that the elections were fought in unfavourable situations.

“This election was not easy. It was a battle between the power of wealth and power, and it was directed against the Shiv Sena,” he said, according to a report by Times of India. The MNS leader also praised grassroot workers for holding up inspite of everything.

Even as he admitted that the MNS failed to secure its desired mandate, Thackeray stressed that the electoral loss would not blunt the party’s political sharpness.

"We are not the kind to get discouraged. Our elected corporators will bury the rulers there," he said, adding, that "if they see anything happening against the Marathi people, they will definitely bring those rulers to book."

Separately, after the Mahayuti secured a comfortable majority in the 227-member BMC House, Thackeray had said that those in power will "not let go of any opportunity" to harass the Marathi people.

He vowed to stand firm in support of the Marathi people.

"Truth be told, you don't really need me to tell you this. But still, I say--whether in the MMR region or across the state, those in power and their supporters will not let go of any opportunity to harass the Marathi people. Therefore, we must stand firmly behind our Marathi people. Elections will come and go, but we must never forget that our breath is Marathi," Raj Thackeray posted on X.

"Though the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena did not achieve the expected success this time, and that pains us, we are not the ones to get disheartened by it. Our elected corporators will more than hold their own against the ruling powers wherever they are. And if anything seems to go against the Marathi people, they will certainly bring those in power to task," he wrote.

"Our fight is for the Marathi people, the Marathi language, Marathi identity, and for a prosperous Maharashtra. This fight is our very existence. You all know well that such battles are long-term," he added.

The MNS chief said that the party will analyse and take action on the shortcomings that led to the loss. There will be discussions on what went wrong, what was left undone, where we fell short, and what needs to be done, he added.