“First Take Care of Your Children”: Eknath Shinde Slams Raj Thackeray as Cousins Reunite

Mumbai: The political temperature in Maharashtra reached a boiling point on Wednesday as Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde launched a scathing personal attack on MNS chief Raj Thackeray. The verbal volley comes just hours after the estranged Thackeray cousins, Raj and Uddhav Thackeray, announced a landmark alliance to contest the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections scheduled for January 15, 2026.

The Personal Jibe

Shinde’s remarks were a direct response to Raj Thackeray’s recent criticism of the state government regarding the safety of minors.

• Shinde’s Quote: “Those who cannot even take care of their own children, how will they manage Mumbai and the state? First, take care of your children,” Shinde told reporters, referencing the internal family dynamics of the MNS chief.
• The Context: Raj Thackeray had recently written a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, citing NCRB data to highlight a 30% rise in missing children cases in Maharashtra between 2021 and 2024. He alleged that “inter-state gangs” were systematically kidnapping children to force them into begging rackets.

The “Thackeray Reunion” Shakes Up BMC Polls

After nearly two decades of political rivalry, the two brothers held a joint press conference in Mumbai to announce their “unification for the cause of the Marathi Manoos.”

1. The Alliance: Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS will fight the BMC polls as a united front.
2. The Motivation: Both leaders stated they have “come together to stay together” to protect the identity of Maharashtra and reclaim the BMC from the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

Mahayuti Reacts: “No Impact”

The ruling alliance, led by CM Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, has dismissed the reunion as a sign of weakness.

• Devendra Fadnavis: Likened the alliance to “Russia and Ukraine coming together,” suggesting it was a desperate move born out of fear of irrelevance.
• The Strategy: Fadnavis asserted that the Mahayuti’s focus on development and infrastructure would outweigh the emotional appeal of the Thackeray brand.

BMC Elections 2026: Key Details