Raj visits Matoshree on Uddhav's birthday; Thackeray cousins get clicked in one frame

Mumbai: In a development that took Maharashtra politics by surprise, the Thackeray cousins - Uddhav and Raj - were seen in one frame together - second time in a fortnight’s time.

Raj drove to Matoshree bungalow in Bandra East to wish Uddhav, who turned 65 on Sunday.

This is after a gap of nearly two decades, that ‘Raja’ visited Matoshree to wish his dear ‘Dadu’ - on the latter’s birthday by presenting him a large bouquet of red roses.

The meeting amplified the buzz for an alliance between the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in the run up to the make-or-break local bodies elections in the state.

Uddhav, the Shiv Sena (UBT) head and former chief minister patted and put his hand around the shoulder of Raj, the MNS founder-president.

A brief one-of-one chat and a photo with late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray said it all.

Before that, Raj bowed before Balasaheb's chair and paid tributes to his mentor.

“MNS chief Rajsaheb Thackeray wishes Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhavsaheb Thackeray,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) posted on X.

“On the occasion of the birthday of my elder brother, Shiv Sena paksha-pramukh Uddhav Thackeray. I visited Matoshri, the residence of the late Balasaheb Thackeray, to extend my best wishes,” Raj said on X.

“I am very happy,” Uddhav, a key leader of the Congress-led INDIA opposition bloc, told reporters.

When asked that Raj has referred to him as the Shiv Sena chief, he said: "Yes...there is only one Shiv Sena" - a statement that asserts that he commands the real Shiv Sena.

As Raj arrived, he was reviewed by Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut, his friend and Uddhav’s Man Friday and leader of the opposition in Legislative Council.

Raj was accompanied by his aide and former minister of state for home Bala Nandgaonkar and former MLA Nitin Sardesai, when he met Uddhav, the Shiv Sena (UBT) head.

The photo-moment brought smiles and tears to many of the faces who had assembled around Matoshree to wish Uddhav - coming from all corners of the state.

After 20 years, Raj and Uddhav came together on 5 July at the Dome in Sardar Vallabhbhai Stadium, National Sports Club of India in Worli, on the issue of Marathi-bhasha, Marathi-asmita and the larger cause of Maharashtra.

At the "victory" rally, held to celebrate the rollback of the Hindi language GRs by the BJP-led Maha Yuti government, the cousins shared a political stage for the first time in almost two decades, on the issue of Marathi identity and "imposition" of the Hindi language.

“It is an important day for the Marathi-manoos,” said Chandrakant Vaidya, the maternal uncle of the Thackeray cousins.

“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.

When pointed out that the talks stopped between the two parties, he said: “Who told you…talks happen…the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections have taken place (in 2024)…we are optimistic.”

The bonhomie between the Thackeray cousins came together in the run up to the Maharashtra local bodies elections.

In his brief comments, Raut said: “Maharashtra is happy today.”

The last two occasions when Raj was seen in Matoshree was on 16 July, 2012 when he escorted Uddhav to the home from hospital after he experienced chest pain and on 18 November, 2012, a day after Balasaheb died, aged 86.

The political messaging on part of Uddhav and Raj was very big ahead of local bodies elections in Maharashtra during which 29 municipal corporations, 257 municipal councils, 26 zilla parishads, 289 panchayat samitis would go to polls - which accounts for over 60 per cent of state’s population spread across the five geographical regions - Konkan, Western Maharashtra, North Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha.

MVA camp excited

The Raj-Uddhav meeting has led to excitement in the Maha Vikas Aghadi camp. "It is great that the two brothers have come together," said NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar said: "From the photo behind the two Thackeray brothers, the late Balasaheb Thackeray seems to be blessing them in a way, as if saying, "As brothers, you two stay together like this…!"

People know what is in mind: CM

Reacting to the development, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that what is in the mind of people has been reflected in the Vidhan Sabha polls. "What is in the mind of people would get reflected in the local bodies elections...let us not go by what is in the mind of two persons," he said. On the other hand, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said that it is a family matter.

Nothing sure of UBT, MNS alliance: Shiv Sena

The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena said that there is nothing sure about Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance. ""On July 5, Raj Thackeray focused on the Marathi language, while Uddhav Thackeray emphasized the municipal corporation. Raj Thackeray gave no clear signal later. As elections approach, alliances will be revealed then," said Shiv Sena MLC Dr Manisha Kayande.