Click to play videoMumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party clebrates its chief Raj Thackeray’s birthday on Sunday, May 14, 2009.
This year though, party chief Raj Thackeray is expecting not just good wishes from the party cadres but donations from supporters.
“With the Vidhan Sabha elections coming up this time for Rajsaheb's birthday rather than getting bouquets and gifts, we're hoping our supporters contribute to the donation box,” said MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar.
Many ask whether Raj Thackeray is going the Mayawati way. The UP leader is notorious for her extravagant birthday celebrations and open calls for lavish birthday gifts.
But Thackeray's strategy to fill up the party coffers is not a first when it comes to the Thackeray family.
On January 23, Raj’s uncle, the Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray collected crores of rupees on the occasion of his birthday. The money then reportedly went to fund the party's parliamentary election campaign.
With Raj Thackeray looking to contest at least 200 out of the 288 seats in the upcoming Assembly elections, big birthday donations would not at all be a bad idea feels the party’s management.
There is also the logic that if Mayawati, Karunanidhi, and Jayalalithaa can do it, why blame Raj?
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