The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has escalated its campaign for making Marathi a mandatory language in all nationalised banks, staging a fresh series of protests to urge officials to conduct transactions and communication in the state’s official language.
On Tuesday, MNS activists targeted Yes Bank, symbolically presenting flowers and stones to bank officials as both a reminder of their demands and a warning of the ongoing campaign. The party has announced that similar protests will unfold across all banks beginning today.
This assertive approach follows a recent speech by MNS chief Raj Thackeray at a Gudi Padwa rally, where he steadfastly emphasized the need for Marathi to be mandatory in official contexts.
In the aftermath, MNS leaders have been vocal in advocating for the language issue.
In a concerning incident, a security guard in Mumbai was reportedly attacked by MNS workers for his inability to speak Marathi. A video of the confrontation circulated online, showing the workers confronting the guard at Powai in Mumbai, with one individual seen slapping him for not conversing in Marathi.
A HISTORY OF MNS’S MARATHI CAMPAIGN
This marks yet another chapter in MNS’s aggressive pursuit of the Marathi language agenda. Since its formation in 2006, following a split from the Shiv Sena, one of Raj Thackeray’s foremost objectives has been to advocate for the rights of the “Marathi Manoos” (Marathi people). Early initiatives included pressuring businesses to display names in Marathi, which often resulted in violent protests and legal repercussions for party members.
In 2007-08, MNS activists clashed with individuals from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar who came to Mumbai for railway recruitment exams, asserting that jobs should prioritize local candidates. These actions sparked national condemnation from leaders across the political spectrum.
The party has also made significant inroads in the entertainment industry, urging multiplexes to dedicate screens for Marathi films. MNS has threatened repercussions if Marathi cinema is overlooked, prompting compliance from theater owners.
THE MARATHI VOTE BANK FACTOR
Despite its vigorous campaigns advocating for the Marathi language, MNS has faced challenges in sustaining political momentum. In the 2009 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the party captured 13 seats, primarily supported by Marathi voters. However, subsequent elections have seen a downward trend in its vote share, influenced by demographic shifts in Mumbai and the rising presence of rival parties like the BJP and factions of the Shiv Sena.
Political analysts estimate that Marathi voters represent around 36-40 percent of Mumbai’s electorate, but fragmentation among various parties has hindered MNS’s ability to consolidate this support base.
With upcoming Mumbai civic body elections on the horizon, Raj Thackeray’s renewed emphasis on the Marathi language issue appears to be a strategic effort to regain lost influence.
