Uddhav Thackeray (L) and Raj Thackeray (R).
Credit: PTI File Photos
Mumbai: While the Marathi-manoos on the ground is excited over the patch-up move by Thackeray cousins, there has been mixed response from the political firmament of Maharashtra as mixed reactions evoked with the BJP not too impressed about the statements of Uddhav and Raj.
With Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, the party of Raj, there seems to be two opinions while as far as Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) is concerned, except Uddhav's Man Friday Sanjay Raut, no one has commented in detail.
“Coming together for Maharashtra does not mean coming together only for elections. Marathi can also bring people together. Just like in Tamil Nadu, political parties come together on the Cauvery issue, what is the problem with Maharashtra parties coming together for Marathi? Only elections are a narrow-minded idea.,” said close Raj aide and MNS Mumbai President Sandeep Deshpande.
However, he pointed out how talks came to a dead end between the undivided Shiv Sena and MNS in 2017 and how when Uddhav was the Chief Minister of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, cases were filed on MNS workers on the issue of loudspeakers.
MNS leader Ameya Khopkar, in a post on X, said: “Pray to God that such an indecent alliance should not take place.”
Raut, however, expressed confidence that something would come out. “There is no alliance, only emotional talks are going on," Raut clarified. “Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray are brothers. We have been together for years. Our relationship has not broken...both brothers will decide,” he said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who heads the MahaYuti-NDA dispensation and state BJP President and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that the matter concerns Uddhav and Raj and there is no response for them to be connected.
“We are happy if they are coming together. There is no reason for anyone to feel sad if this should happen by them keeping aside their differences. One has given a call and another has responded to it. Why should we get into that?,” said Fadnavis.
“It is Raj’s choice with whom he would go or not…the BJP would not come in between,” said Bawankule.
The Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde surely seems to be irritated.
“…arey…speak of development,” said Shinde, who has toppled Uddhav as Chief Minister and legally took control of the Shiv Sena. “Zero plus Zero equals to Zero,” said Shiv Sena deputy leader Sanjay Nirupam, adding that people of Maharashtra have decisively rejected the UBT Sena and MNS.
Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister and NCP President Ajit Pawar said: “It is completely an issue between them (Raj and Uddhav)…it is 100 per cent their issue and the call would be theirs.”
From the opposition camp, NCP (SP) Working President Supriya Sule said that she was very happy over the developments...Raj Thackeray said the dispute in Maharashtra was bigger than their dispute. That is happy news to me....If Balasaheb Thackeray had been among us, he would have been very happy today…if the two brothers are coming together for Maharashtra, we should welcome it wholeheartedly,” said Sule, the daughter of NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar.
State Congress President Harshavardhan Sapkal said: “We work for Bharat Jodo and not Parivar Todo. If two families are coming together, there's no need for objection. If unity is being forged, it should be welcomed.”