MNS–Shiv Sena (UBT) ties warm up ahead of high-stakes BMC polls?
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray visited Matoshree, the residence of his cousin and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, on Saturday — his second visit in recent months and fifth meeting this year. The renewed bonhomie between the estranged Thackeray cousins has once again set off political speculation about a possible reunion ahead of key civic polls.
The two leaders were seen together twice on Saturday — first at a family function hosted by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, and later during a private meeting at Uddhav’s Bandra East home. Their growing proximity, observers say, signals the mending of a long-standing political rift that split the Thackeray family nearly two decades ago.
The thaw began in June, when both parties jointly opposed the Maharashtra government’s decision to make Hindi a compulsory third language in schools from Class 1. What began as a protest soon turned into a joint event, marking the first time in years that Uddhav and Raj shared the same stage.
Since then, Uddhav Thackeray has openly hinted at a pre-poll alliance with the MNS for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and civic elections. Raj, meanwhile, has maintained a cautious stance, asking party workers to “stay patient” — though his gestures tell a different story.
In July, Raj made headlines by visiting Matoshree on Uddhav’s birthday — his first such visit in more than a decade — a move widely seen as symbolic of reconciliation within the Thackeray family.
Sources say both factions have already formed a joint committee of senior leaders to identify constituencies and assess organisational strengths. The panel’s role will be to facilitate smoother negotiations — a process that had derailed alliance talks twice in the past.
At the ground level, cooperation between the two camps is already visible. MNS and UBT cadres were recently seen marching together in Nashik, though their alliance failed to yield success in the BEST credit society elections. Party insiders, however, brushed off the loss, calling it a “minor setback” ahead of the larger BMC battle.
Meanwhile, the BJP has launched a sharp counter-campaign under its new Mumbai president, warning that “Mumbai will get a Mayor named Khan” if the Thackeray-led alliance regains control — a remark aimed at consolidating its core vote base.
In contrast, the Thackeray cousins are expected to focus their campaign on Marathi pride and allegations of misgovernance in Mumbai over the past two and a half years.
During the recent Dussehra rally, both Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut urged party workers to “see Raj and his party as their own,” a clear signal that the two Thackeray factions may soon reunite — politically and personally.
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