Thackeray cousins join hands after 20 years, drop hints of wider political alliance

Mumbai: In a turning point in Maharashtra politics, the Thackeray cousins - Uddhav and Raj - came together on a public platform after a gap of 20 years. The two joined hands for the cause of ‘Marathi-bhasha’ and ‘Marathi-manoos’, and dropped hints of a wider political alliance ahead of the mega local bodies elections in the state.

As Uddhav, the Shiv Sena (UBT) head and Raj, the MNS president, walked into the dais at the start, and when Aaditya (Uddhav's son) and Amit (Raj's son) came together at the fag end with their hands around each other, it sent out a strong message into the political circle. The event was held at Sardar Vallabhbhai Stadium in the National Sports Club of India complex in Worli, on Saturday.

“The Thackeray brand is together,” people cheered after the meeting addressed by Uddhav and Raj.

Sans any political banner, the "mega victory gathering" was conducted to celebrate the Maharashtra government's rollback of the three-language policy in primary schools.

“One thing is clear, we have removed the distance between us…We have come together to stay together,” said Uddhav amid thunderous applause.

“Today, after 20 years, Uddhav and I have come together. What Balasaheb could not do, Devendra Fadnavis did it...the work of bringing both of us together,” said Raj, mocking the CM. “You may have power in the Vidhan Bhawan, we have power on the roads,” he said, making it clear that they are going back to the basics.

Uddhav said he and Raj together "will not only capture power in the Mumbai civic body, but also Maharashtra."

Uddhav and Raj made it clear that there would be no compromise on Marathi language and slammed the three-language policy under the New Education Policy.

“Whether someone is Gujarati or anything else, they must know Marathi here, but there is no need to beat people if they don’t speak Marathi. However, if someone does useless drama, you must make a sound under their eardrums. I tell you one more thing: if you do something, don’t make a video of the incident. Let the person beaten up tell that he has been beaten up, you don’t need to tell everyone that you have beaten someone,” Raj said.

“I wanted to know what is the third language for people in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh,” Raj added. “Today, in the high court and the Supreme Court, everything is in English. It is not there in any other state. Why only in Maharashtra? When Maharashtra awakens, you see what happens,” he added.

While beginning his speech, Uddhav said: “After so many years, Raj and I met on a stage. The problem is, he called me 'respected Uddhav Thackeray'. So I will also say, 'respected Raj Thackeray',” said Uddhav.

“Devendra Fadnavis says that goondagiri on the issue of language will not be tolerated…yes, we are goondas…if we have to be goondas to get justice, we will do goondagiri,” Uddhav said.

The last time Raj and Uddhav appeared together in public was during the Malvan Assembly by-election campaign in 2005 of the undivided Shiv Sena led by Balasaheb.