Uddhav and Raj Thackeray bury hatchet, estranged cousins reunite after 2 decades – The Tribune

Estranged cousins Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray shared the stage for the first time in nearly 20 years at a high-profile rally in Mumbai.

The event marked a rare show of unity between the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Shiv Sena (UBT), centered around the defense of Marathi identity and opposition to the controversial three-language policy.

Addressing the crowd, MNS chief Raj Thackeray said, “Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has achieved what even Balasaheb Thackeray could not — bringing Uddhav and me back together.”

He went on to claim that the state government’s recent rollback of the three-language formula came only after strong public opposition from Marathi-speaking citizens.

“This language policy was just the beginning of a larger plan to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra,” Raj alleged.

Drawing comparisons with southern states, Raj said, “Many politicians and film stars in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh studied in English-medium schools, but they still take immense pride in their mother tongues. We must do the same for Marathi.”

In his address, Uddhav Thackeray emphasized that this reunion was not temporary. “We have come together to stay together,” he declared, hinting at continued collaboration between the two parties.

The rally, seen as a strategic and symbolic display of strength, could reshape alliances in Maharashtra’s evolving political landscape, especially as both leaders attempt to reclaim their traditional Marathi voter base.

PTI inputs