Janjivan Bureau / Mumbai : Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray’s new campaign style, which includes video-presentations on the “failures” of the Narendra Modi government has made him popular with candidates of the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party.
So far, Thackeray has held just one rally–last week on the eve of Gudi Padwa at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park.
However, footage of Thackeray’s speech replete with video clips of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’ comments on Aadhar before and after he became Prime Minister, lack of Internet connectivity despite the government’s Digital India programme, death of cows in government-sponsored animal shelters, loss of livelihoods following demonetisation, etc, are going viral online.
At least, one Congress candidate from Western Maharashtra is reported to planning to hire video vans to play Thackeray’s speech in the rural areas.
Sources in the Congress and the NCP say, Thackeray’s speech is being shared aggressively by the social media cells of the two outfits. Candidates of the two parties are demanding that the MNS chief address rallies in their constituencies.
“There is demand from many Congress and NCP candidates to address rallies in their constituencies. We are in the process of deciding where Rajsaheb will hold rallies,” Sandeep Deshpande, a close associate of Thackeray said.
Though MNS is not contesting the Lok Sabha elections this time, Thackeray has announced support to the Congress-NCP alliance. His party workers are already out campaigning for several candidates in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Nashik and parts of Western Maharashtra where MNS still enjoys some support.
However, Thackeray’s innovative use of video presentation technology seems to have fired the imagination of the Congress-NCP candidates.
According to MNS leaders, candidates of the two parties have suggested putting up LED screens at prominent places like markets and bus stands so that Thackeray’s speeches are webcast live.
Meanwhile, Thackeray’s supporters are taking on anyone criticizing their leader’s speeches on social media.
Earlier this week, one Vijay Vare who called Thackeray anti-national on Facebook for his comments on the Gujarati community was beaten up by MNS workers.
The party’s activists barged into Vare’s home in Ghatkopar in suburban Mumbai and beat him up before dragging him to the police station. The MNS activists then forced police to book Vare for defaming then made him do several sit-ups before letting him go.
Video footage of the assault is being circulated on social media by MNS workers who threaten similar attacks on anyone trolling their leader.
