<p>Mumbai: In a development that took Maharashtra politics by surprise, the Thackeray cousins—Uddhav and Raj—were seen in one frame as they came together again, shortly after their previous reunion.</p><p>Raj drove to the Matoshree bungalow in Bandra East to wish Uddhav, who turned 65 on Sunday.</p><p>It is after a gap of nearly two decades that ‘Raja’ visited Matoshree to wish his dear ‘Dadu’.</p>.<p>Raj was received by Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut and other party members.</p><p>The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president was accompanied by his aide and former Minister of State (Home) Bala Nandgaonkar and former MLA Nitin Sardesai, when he met Uddhav, the Shiv Sena (UBT) head.</p>.<p>The gathering was marked with a photo session that left people with both smiles and tears of joy. Party leaders and close connections from all corners of the state assembled around Matoshree to wish the Shiv Sena UBT chief. </p>.Uddhav-Raj bonhomie ahead of Maharashtra local polls: Alliance partner Congress watching with caution.<p><strong>A long-awaited reunion</strong></p><p>After 20 years, Raj and Uddhav came together on July 5 at the Dome in Sardar Vallabhbhai Stadium, National Sports Club of India in Worli, on the issue of <em>'Marathi-bhasha, Marathi-asmita'</em> and the larger cause of Maharashtra.</p><p>Chandrakant Vaidya, the maternal uncle of the Thackeray cousins, described it as an "important day for the Marathi-manoos."</p><p>“The people of Maharashtra wanted the brothers together….two brothers came together, two parties came together, two ideas came together,” said Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav, who is the party's group leader in the Legislative Assembly.</p><p>When pointed out that the talks stopped between the two parties, he clarified, saying, “Who told you…talks happen…the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections have taken place (in 2024)…we are optimistic.”</p><p>The bonhomie between the Thackeray cousins assumes importance in the run up to the Maharashtra local bodies elections.</p>
<p>Mumbai: In a development that took Maharashtra politics by surprise, the Thackeray cousins—Uddhav and Raj—were seen in one frame as they came together again, shortly after their previous reunion.</p><p>Raj drove to the Matoshree bungalow in Bandra East to wish Uddhav, who turned 65 on Sunday.</p><p>It is after a gap of nearly two decades that ‘Raja’ visited Matoshree to wish his dear ‘Dadu’.</p>.<p>Raj was received by Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut and other party members.</p><p>The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president was accompanied by his aide and former Minister of State (Home) Bala Nandgaonkar and former MLA Nitin Sardesai, when he met Uddhav, the Shiv Sena (UBT) head.</p>.<p>The gathering was marked with a photo session that left people with both smiles and tears of joy. Party leaders and close connections from all corners of the state assembled around Matoshree to wish the Shiv Sena UBT chief. </p>.Uddhav-Raj bonhomie ahead of Maharashtra local polls: Alliance partner Congress watching with caution.<p><strong>A long-awaited reunion</strong></p><p>After 20 years, Raj and Uddhav came together on July 5 at the Dome in Sardar Vallabhbhai Stadium, National Sports Club of India in Worli, on the issue of <em>'Marathi-bhasha, Marathi-asmita'</em> and the larger cause of Maharashtra.</p><p>Chandrakant Vaidya, the maternal uncle of the Thackeray cousins, described it as an "important day for the Marathi-manoos."</p><p>“The people of Maharashtra wanted the brothers together….two brothers came together, two parties came together, two ideas came together,” said Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav, who is the party's group leader in the Legislative Assembly.</p><p>When pointed out that the talks stopped between the two parties, he clarified, saying, “Who told you…talks happen…the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections have taken place (in 2024)…we are optimistic.”</p><p>The bonhomie between the Thackeray cousins assumes importance in the run up to the Maharashtra local bodies elections.</p>