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Ahead of state civic polls, party insiders confirm that the two leaders have neither met nor instructed their teams to initiate alliance talks—at least not yet
Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray seen together in Mumbai. (File image: X)
Even as workers and local leaders from Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) increasingly share political warmth on the ground, the much-hyped alliance between the cousins remains stuck in limbo. Neither has officially shared any proposal for an alliance, though party leaders from both sides are making statements about the possibility. The narrative took a turn on Thursday morning when Raj Thackeray and Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis held a closed-door meeting at a posh hotel in Bandra. With Mumbai’s high-stakes municipal elections nearing, this meeting is seen as a potential game-changer, possibly designed to check Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT).
For months, the two parties have displayed signs of reconciliation at the grassroots level. MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) functionaries have been seen engaging cordially at multiple forums, sparking speculation of a potential tie-up that could reshape Marathi politics in the city. Though Fadnavis and Raj Thackeray didn’t reveal anything about the meeting, speculation that Raj Thackeray’s MNS might receive support from the BJP and Mahayuti in the upcoming BMC elections has generated considerable political buzz.
In a podcast interview, Raj stated his readiness to set aside differences with his cousin Uddhav Thackeray for the betterment of Maharashtra and Marathi Manoos. This sparked talk of an Uddhav-Raj alliance, and both leaders gave positive signals, with party workers even putting up banners in many areas of Mumbai urging them to unite.
Despite this camaraderie, there has been no formal dialogue or proposal exchange between Raj and Uddhav Thackeray. Party insiders confirm that the two leaders have neither met nor instructed their teams to initiate alliance talks—at least not yet. Sources suggest that both sides are deliberately holding back, waiting for the State Election Commission to announce the municipal poll dates before making a decisive move.
Following the meeting between Raj Thackeray and Fadnavis, various leaders from Mahayuti and Mahavikas Aghadi reacted. According to NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar, Raj Thackeray’s expressed willingness to join hands with Uddhav Thackeray and now his meeting with Devendra Fadnavis could be a political tactic to increase his bargaining power before the upcoming local body elections.
Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said, “The BJP can’t afford the reunion of the Thackeray brothers. Marathi Manoos wants this alliance, and if the family is going to come together, the Congress party will support that. But if Raj Thackeray is holding alliance talks with Mahayuti, then his credibility is at stake.”
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has initiated the ward delimitation process, signalling that elections, especially for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), may be announced soon. The state has directed the restructuring of wards for A, B, and C category municipal corporations, including Pune, Nagpur, Thane, Nashik, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Kalyan-Dombivli. Mumbai will retain its 227 single-member ward format, while most other corporations will shift to a four-member ward model.
As ward boundaries are redrawn and poll dates approach, the pressure on Raj and Uddhav to either formalise an alliance or abandon the idea is intensifying. Supporters of both camps argue that the time for symbolic gestures is over; it’s time for political clarity. Will the cousins join hands and present a united Thackeray front? Or will they contest the crucial BMC election alone? The countdown has begun, but the decision remains shrouded in political suspense.
Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. He previously worked with…Read More
Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. He previously worked with… Read More
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