Maharashtra Swaraj Party (MSP) is a regional political party formed by the Christian community native to Mumbai (Bombay) city and the Greater Bombay Metropolitan Area, in the Konkan divisionofIndia.[1] The party's name draws inspiration from the phrase "Swaraj is my birthright", coined by a Bombay East Indian freedom fighter and Mumbai's first mayor of Indian origin, Joseph "Kaka" Baptista. Baptista was an associate and a confidantofLokmanya Tilak who made the phrase popular.[2]
The organisation, aimed at representing the East Indian community, was initiated by various local NGO's like Watchdog Foundation, Mobai Gaothan Panchayat, Bombay East Indian Association, Vakola Advanced Locality Management, Kalina Civic Forum& the Kolovery Welfare Association.[3] MSP plans expand to the rest of Maharashtra.
The party fielded five candidates from Mumbai's suburbs in the 13th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election. Since the organisation is not registered as a political party, the candidates were fielded as independents.
Names of candidates announced by the party include:[4]
