Only Uddhav and Raj to decide on alliance: Sanjay Raut

Even as leaders of the Uddhav Thackeray-headed Shiv Sena (UBT) are sending feelers to Raj Thackeray, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president recently met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at a hotel in Mumbai, triggering speculation about his next political move.

Mumbai: As Maharashtra’s political firmament closely observes the possible alliance between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS, Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut on Sunday said the brothers will decide on it and no one knows better than him about what is going to happen.

Last week, Shiv Sena (UBT) head and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, said - “whatever people of Maharashtra wish, will happen” - keeping the hopes alive.

"A decision on the alliance will be taken by Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray as leaders and brothers," Raut, a journalist-politician and chief spokesperson of Shiv Sena (UBT).

He dismissed statements of some of the MNS leaders including its Mumbai unit chief Sandeep Deshpande, who had indirectly targetted Uddhav.

“Those from the MNS who are speaking against the alliance have come into politics late. What others say has no value. I have seen the Thackeray brothers closely for several years. I know what is going to happen and what is not. Nobody knows better than me," said Raut, the Man Friday of Uddhav and close friend of Raj.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Raj had supported prime minister Narendra Modi and had not fielded candidates to benefit the BJP-led MahaYuti, however, in Vidhan Sabha polls, he contested the polls on his own strength.

For the Thackeray cousins - the ensuing local bodies polls in Maharashtra is going to be very important as in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly polls, Shiv Sena (UBT) could barely get 20 seats and MNS failed to open its account.

Raut’s statement assumes significance as Uddhav’s son and Worli MLA Aaditya and Raj’s son Amit too have earlier said that the party chiefs will take a final call and they are open to alliance.

Even while the discussion about possible alliance were taking place, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ meeting with Raj came as a surprise, however, it seems that it was over the issue of three-language formula vis-a-vis New Education Policy.

In a related development, state cultural affairs minister and Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar said that the strength of Shiv Sena (UBT) stands diminished. “The state of UBT Sena is dangerous and dilapidated. Their opposition to Mumbai, Mumbaikars, Hindutva and Hindu festivals has pushed them into this crisis. Moreover, the exodus of their office bearers, MLAs and MPs reflects the party’s dilapidated condition. In the 2017 BMC elections, BJP was just two seats behind the then-undivided Shiv Sena. Today, with the addition of four former corporators to the BJP, we have emerged as the number one party. Also, over 50 corporators from the original Shiv Sena have aligned with deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, pushing the UBT Sena faction into complete disarray.”