MNS party workers prepare party symbol train engine on the back drop of Vidhan Sabha elections in Kolhapur. (TOI photo by Ashish Shankar)

MUMBAI: After a major loss in the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s ( MNS ) ‘ railway engine’ may derail soon.A party is recognized by the Election Commission (EC) only if it secures not less than 6% valid votes. While maintaining that percentage, it has to have at least two members in the House.“These are basic conditions for recognition, based on which symbols are allotted,” an EC official said.The party can maintain its recognition if it wins 3% seats. “MNS did not meet either of these criteria, hence withdrawal of its symbol and recognition seem imminent,” the official said.In the 2009 assembly polls, MNS won 13 seats and was recognised as a regional party with a symbol. The party had 13 legislators and over 5.7% vote share, which was more than 3% of the 288 seats in the state. MNS had done well in the city’s civic polls too, when it had 29 seats in February 2012.Raj Thackeray had floated the party in March 2006.