MNS at risk of losing recognition, symbol after drawing blank in Maharashtra polls

Mon Nov 25 07:41:49 UTC 2024: ## MNS Faces Derecognition After Dismal Election Performance

**Mumbai, November 25, 2024** – The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), led by Raj Thackeray, is on the brink of losing its status as a recognized political party following its disastrous performance in the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections. The party failed to win a single seat, securing only 1.8% of the total vote share.

According to former Maharashtra legislature secretary Anant Kalse, the Election Commission of India (ECI) requires a party to meet specific criteria to retain recognition and its reserved symbol. These include winning at least one seat with 8% vote share, two seats with 6% vote share, or three seats with 3% vote share. The MNS fell significantly short of these benchmarks.

Kalse explained that the ECI, as an independent body, may issue a notice to the MNS and revoke its recognition. This would result in the loss of the party’s railway engine symbol, forcing them to choose a new, unreserved symbol for future elections. However, the party’s name would remain unchanged.

This marks the first time since its electoral debut in 2009 that the MNS has failed to win a single seat. The party had previously won 13 seats in 2009 and one seat each in 2014 and 2019. Thackeray himself acknowledged the “unbelievable” results via social media. The potential loss of recognition and its iconic symbol raises serious questions about the MNS’s future and its ability to maintain voter appeal.