Uddhav, Raj coming together? Thackeray cousins speak about mending differences

Mumbai: In a significant political development in Maharashtra, the Thackeray cousins -Uddhav and Raj have spoken about burying their “minor differences” and working for the “larger interests” of Maharashtra and Marathi-manoos.

The cousins parted ways nearly two decades ago after a bitter power struggle. However, there is time for the actual reunion to happen - as no formal meeting has taken place so far.

This is for the first time since 2005-06 that Uddhav (64), a former chief minister and now head of Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj (56), who is the President of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, have publicly spoken on burying their differences and softening their stand and rhetoric. While Uddhav is son of late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, Raj is the latter’s nephew.

While Raj’s comments came during a podcast by veteran filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar, Uddhav responded while addressing a gathering of Bharatiya Kamgar Sena, the trade wing of the party.

“The issues( between us) are very small for me, the interest of Maharashtra is bigger and everything else is secondary before it.

For that, I can set aside minor disputes and I am ready to work (with Uddhav). The only question is that of will and it’s not just about me. I believe all Marathi people across political parties should unite and form a single front,” said Raj.

What was more significant, Raj added, "I believe all Marathi people across political parties should unite and form a single front.”

“I am also ready to set aside minor disputes for the Marathi language and Maharashtra. I am ready to work together (with Raj) but he should not host anti-Maharashtra people and parties, definitely not 'gaddar' Sena,” said Uddhav.

However, what seemed to be a rider, he said, “During the Lok Sabha elections, had they (MNS) opposed the BJP, their government would not have come to power at the Centre.

"You can’t extend support one day and oppose the next. You can’t compromise when convenient. Whoever stands in the way of Maharashtra’s welfare—I won’t show them any hospitality. I won’t invite them to my home. I won’t sit alongside them, he should take an oath in front of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.”

The development comes ahead of the elections to the municipal corporations in Maharashtra including that of Mumbai.

Besides, the statement of the Thackeray cousins comes in the backdrop of the Maha Yuti-NDA government’s decision to begin implementation of the New Education Policy (NEP) making Hindi as a third language which will be mandatory for students in Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools.

Reacting to the development, Rajya Sabha member and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut said," Uddhav and Raj are brothers…you cannot deny that,” said Raut, a Rajya Sabha member.

Raut also slammed the BJP for making Maharashtra weaker.

In the 2024 Vidhan Sabha polls, the Shiv Sena (UBT), which is part of the MVA opposition combine got 20 seats while MNS, which contested independently after having supported the BJP in Lok Sabha polls, could not open an account this time.

The 2009 polls, the first for Raj’s party, he sprang a surprise by winning 13 seats. In that election the undivided Shiv Sena, which had an alliance with BJP, managed 44 seats.

The 2014 Vidhan Sabha polls were unique in many respects as both the alliances - the Congress-NCP and BJP-Shiv Sena broke and all contested against each other. The Shiv Sena headed by Uddhav won 63 seats while MNS had to settle for one seat.

The 2019 polls were no different for MNS as Raj managed just one seat, while Uddhav managed 56 seats, though post polls, he broke the alliance with BJP.