Mumbai: In a historic political reunion, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and his cousin Uddhav Thackeray, chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), came together on one stage after 20 years of political rivalry. The momentous rally in Mumbai on Saturday was hailed as a major shift in Maharashtra’s political landscape.
#WATCH | Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray's son and party leader Aaditya Thackeray, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's son and party leader Amit Thackeray shared a hug at their party's joint rally after the Maharashtra government scrapped two GRs… pic.twitter.com/dUSf6t2NKd
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UBT Sena leader Kishori Pednekar described the revived relationship between the Thackeray cousins as “stronger than that of Fevicol,” symbolizing unbreakable unity. “Both of them have kept forward the things that the people of Maharashtra wanted to say,” she added.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi also welcomed the reunion, calling it a “historic moment” and highlighting a strong public response. She quoted Raj Thackeray’s remarks at the rally, pointing out that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had done what Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray could not—hinting at how political circumstances have reshaped alliances.
The event was marked by symbolic gestures of camaraderie, with Raj Thackeray’s son, Amit Thackeray, hugging Uddhav Thackeray’s son, Aaditya, on stage. Addressing the rally, Uddhav said, “When it comes to the question of language, Raj, I and everyone else here is united.”
UBT leader Anand Dubey also praised the reunion, stating, “Both the brothers have shown that they are descendants of Balasaheb Thackeray… MNS and Shiv Sena UBT have the same DNA. This will impact the upcoming elections.”
Adding further support, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Supriya Sule attended the rally, and her colleague Jitendra Awhad said, “We have witnessed a historic moment here today.”
Raj Thackeray had split from the Shiv Sena in 2006, citing that he was being sidelined within the party. He went on to form MNS, and the cousins remained at odds ever since.
Their joint stand against the Maharashtra government’s alleged ‘Hindi imposition’, and support for the rollback of the three-language policy in primary schools, has brought the two parties closer in a shared cultural and political cause.