Mumbai: As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections approach, Maharashtra's political landscape is witnessing a dramatic shift, with rising speculation about a potential alliance between estranged cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray. The Shiv Sena UBT has openly endorsed the idea, calling the reunion 'the need of the hour' to safeguard Maharashtra’s interests. The party believes the ruling governments at both the state and the Centre are rattled by this prospect.
Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut, in his column in party mouthpiece Saamana, claimed that the very possibility of Uddhav and Raj joining forces has shaken leaders in both Delhi and Maharashtra. “Their politics will collapse like a house of cards if the Thackeray brothers unite,” Raut wrote, targeting especially Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Shinde's Recent Offer To Amit Shah
According to Raut, Shinde recently offered to merge with the BJP and pitched himself as CM to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, just to sabotage the Thackeray truce. He added that MLAs like Uday Samant and Sanjay Shirsat have been boasting about how the Shinde-Shah duo will derail the alliance.
Fueling this speculation was a joint rally held by Uddhav and Raj on July 5 against the inclusion of Hindi as a third language in schools, a move they said threatens Marathi identity. While Uddhav emotionally stated that the brothers had “come together to stay together,” Raj refrained from confirming any political tie-up, keeping the final word hanging in the air.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), meanwhile, remains non-committal. “Raj Thackeray will decide when the time is right,” said MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar, adding that the party is prepared for all possibilities, including going solo.
Raut Urges Raj To Clear Air Over Meetings With Shinde-Fadnavis
Raut, however, urged Raj to break his silence on his past meetings with Shinde and CM Devendra Fadnavis, accusing them of trying to exploit Raj’s presence to gain political mileage. “Shinde’s relevance is fading, and his meetings with Raj are short-lived,” Raut said.
Raut also stoked regional sentiments by alleging growing resentment among Marathi speakers against the dominance of Jains and Gujaratis under BJP rule. “The joint rally revived Marathi pride, but the real test is whether a formal alliance happens,” he said.
