Mumbai: Estranged cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray have proven willingness to come back collectively within the “bigger curiosity” of Maharashtra, their overtures coming within the backdrop of a Hindi imposition row and their events going by means of troublesome phases.
In a podcast with actor Mahesh Manjrekar, launched Saturday morning, MNS chief Raj Thackeray stated he can put aside his variations with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav if he’s prepared.
“I believe our arguments, fights are insignificant issues. Maharashtra is manner larger. And for the sake of the state, these fights, arguments are very petty. So I don’t see coming collectively as a troublesome factor. However the query is of will. And it isn’t the query of my will or of my selfishness. It’s time to see the bigger image,” Raj stated.
And his olive department to his estranged cousin appears to have elicited a constructive response.
Talking at a operate of Kamgar Sena later within the day, Uddhav stated he too is prepared to place apart the variations “however I’ve a situation”.
“For Maharashtra’s profit, I can’t hobnob with anybody who is available in between this. He shouldn’t host anti-Maharashtra folks and events, nor go to them. First resolve this and solely then discuss coming collectively for Maharashtra’s sake,” Uddhav stated, referring apparently to Raj’s frequent conferences with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputy, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde.
Raj has been sending feelers to Uddhav, and he did reply to a few of these. However there was no important progress.
Analysts say it is vitally early to touch upon the developments, however they really feel even this time nothing concrete goes to come back out.
“If Uddhav can put up a situation, so can Raj. And what if he places up the situation the place he asks Uddhav to not go together with the Congress as they ‘insult’ Savarkar? In addition to, it additionally must be seen the way it will profit and whom it’ll profit probably the most as a result of each their constituencies are related—Marathi manoos,” Political analyst Abhay Deshpande instructed ThePrint.
There are a number of elements that come into play earlier than these two really come collectively, he additional stated, including that it may be a recreation of “notion administration” for each as they need to present their voters that “I used to be prepared, the opposite one was not”.
Deshpande additionally puzzled if Uddhav is able to give one other lease of life to Raj and his MNS, particularly when it’s right down to its lowest. The MNS’s vote share within the 2024 meeting polls fell to a meagre 1 p.c from 6 p.c in 2019. “So that’s the reason, it must be seen how actually Uddhav Thackeray responds to Raj.”
These developments come at a time the Fadnavis dispensation introduced a authorities decision making Hindi necessary from Courses 1 to five. Raj, Uddhav and different opposition events have come out strongly in opposition to this Hindi “imposition”. Eknath Shinde assembly Raj earlier this week additionally provides one other layer of context to those developments.
One other political analyst, Prakash Bal, feels any coming collectively of the 2 cousins would imply a warning signal for Eknath Shinde.
“With Shinde being upset throughout the Mahayuti (authorities) and a chilly conflict brewing between Fadnavis and Shinde, Fadnavis is a possibility to attain over Shinde. And if Raj and Uddhav come collectively, Hindi-speaking voters or somewhat non-Marathi voters may rally behind the BJP and it may imply an remoted Shinde, i.e if the BJP goes solo within the upcoming civic polls,” stated Bal.
Additionally Learn: Thackerays have a plan to whip up help earlier than civic polls. It begins on Shinde’s residence turf
Not the primary time
Raj left the undivided Shiv Sena in 2005 after Bal Thackeray introduced Uddhav as his successor. He fashioned the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) the following yr.
In its preliminary days, the MNS achieved political success, successful 13 seats within the meeting polls in 2009. Nonetheless, that success began dwindling.
In 2012, after the dying of Bal Thackeray, the estranged cousins had been seen collectively for the primary time for the reason that cut up.
They had been seen collectively at a number of private household events since. The identical yr, when Uddhav underwent angioplasty, Raj stood with him. Equally, in 2014, Uddhav visited Raj’s daughter, Urvashi, within the hospital when she fractured her leg in an accident.
Politically, the 2 cousins prolonged an olive department to the opposite on a number of totally different events however nothing significant got here out of these.
In an interview with the Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece Saamana, Uddhav stated in 2013 he would welcome any supply of an alliance with Raj “however one can’t clap with a single hand”. Raj didn’t reply.
Earlier than the 2017 Mumbai civic physique polls, the MNS, which was on a weak wicket after its debacle within the 2014 Lok Sabha and meeting polls, made an unconditional supply to the Shiv Sena for an alliance for the bigger advantage of the town’s Marathi inhabitants. This time, Uddhav’s Shiv Sena didn’t reply.
In 2019 when the MVA authorities was fashioned and Uddhav Thackeray grew to become the chief minister, he invited Raj and his household for the swearing-in ceremony by personally calling him. This time, nevertheless, Raj responded. He went to the Shivaji Park along with his household to attend the swearing-in, a sign {that a} thaw of their ties.
Later, in 2022, when the BMC’s time period was about to run out, there was a buzz as soon as once more that Uddhav and Raj would possibly come collectively and Raj’s spouse Sharmila Thackeray had stated, “Let there be a name and allow us to see then.”
However issues didn’t progress.
Then in December 2024, at a few household weddings, Raj and Uddhav had been seen collectively, smiling and speaking.
Then later once more in February this yr, they each met on the wedding ceremony of a authorities official’s son, a 3rd assembly in two months, as soon as once more sparking hypothesis of them getting collectively.
They may have despatched out constructive indicators previously too, however their newest overtures are extra essential than ever earlier than as Uddhav and Raj each combat for political survival.
MP Sanjay Raut, a Uddhav Thackeray loyalist, welcomed the prospect of the 2 cousins coming collectively. “They each are brothers. As a result of some variations, their paths had been totally different. However he ought to take a agency stand that those that are anti-Maharashtra, he (Raj) won’t be courteous in direction of them. After which we are going to begin additional discussions, if in any respect,” Raut instructed the media.
“The BJP and its allies need to end off the title Thackeray from Maharashtra. So at this level if each Thackerays have stated and reacted to every others’ name, then we welcome it. We’ll wait and watch however we will certainly have a look at this from a constructive angle,” he added.
Nonetheless, MNS spokesperson Sandip Deshpande stated that although Raj Thackeray will take a remaining name, in earlier incidents he may recall, Uddhav’s celebration didn’t reply positively to Raj’s proposals.
“Simply because the BJP didn’t agree on a 2.5 years chief ministership, you broke ties with them and are calling the BJP anti-Maharashtra now. He (Uddhav) betrayed us earlier, then the BJP and now looks as if he desires to betray the Congress and Pawar sahib as nicely. So, for a typical employee like me, I need to know on what grounds we must always ally with them and belief them. Lastly the choice to type an alliance or not is Raj sahib’s,” Deshpande instructed the media.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
Additionally Learn: From 13 to 0 in 15 years: Raj Thackeray’s MNS hits new low, hurts Shinde in Mumbai
