After anti-Modi videos, Cong invites Raj to rallies

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, April 22

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, whose video presentations on the alleged failings of the Narendra Modi government has rattled the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra, is all set to do an encore at the national level.

According to sources in the MNS, Thackeray has been invited by Congress candidates to hold rallies in Northern India, including Delhi and UP. “Raj saheb will speak in Hindi at his rallies in North India,” a party source said. MNS leaders are still in the process of finalising his itinerary for his rallies up-country.

MNS officials say they are choosing Thackeray’s rallies with care so that he is featured in constituencies where high-profile candidates of the Congress are in a neck-and-neck race with the BJP.

MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande refused to comment on whether the Congress has invited Thackeray to address any rally in Amethi. “His rallies in Maharashtra are extremely popular and the footage is being shared with translations and sub-titles on social media. Political leaders are now demanding that Thackeray address rallies elsewhere in the country as well,” a party official said.

In Maharashtra, Thackeray is planning to hold four or five more rallies as the last phase of polling is on April 29. On Tuesday, he will hold a rally at Kalachowkie in the South Mumbai constituency where Murli Deora of the Congress faces sitting MP Arvind Sawant of the Shiv Sena.

The following day, he will hold a rally in Bhandup. Urmila Matondkar and Priya Dutt of the Congress have also requested rallies by Thackeray, say MNS leaders.