Win over voters, don't chase votes: Raj Thackeray to party workers

Directs them to follow party discipline or face the axe

After rout in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday asked party members not to chase for votes but instead win voters' confidence.

Raj, who is in Pune to review party's debacle and the future course of action for its revival, told the party workers to pay more attention on building rapport with voters and make all efforts to resolve number of issues faced by them. He also emphasised the need for concentrating more and more on constructive works.

There are reports that the party is riven by factionalism and many leaders were deserting the party. Former party legislator Pravin Darekar, who lost to the Shiv Sena candidate in North Mumbai, is expected to join BJP.

MNS, which had contested 10 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, lost all seats and its nominees lost their deposits. Similarly, the party, which had won 13 seats in 2009 Assembly poll, could win just one seat in the 2014 Assembly election. MNS has attributed its crushing defeat to lack of strong and state-wide party organisation and disconnect with the voters.

Further, Raj, in a bid to instill confidence among already demoralised party cadre,  said the voters have not completely deserted but the party needs to connect with them.

MNS chief asked party members to follow party discipline failing which they would face action. Curiously, Raj, against the backdrop of violent agitations launched by MNS in the past especially against the north Indians, said people's problems can be addressed by establishing good rapport with them and not necessarily always through agitations or scuffles.

Moreover, Raj issued a diktat, asking party members not to put up hoarding or posters on their birthdays or for self-promotion.

He warned that if they continue to do so they will be removed from the party post.