Drawing parallels with the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, Uddhav Thackeray said the reunion was about safeguarding Maharashtra and its people. There has been no official word yet as to how the 227 municipal seats will be shared between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS
File Pic
After two decades of rivalry, the Thackeray cousins on Wednesday announced a political reunion to take on the BJP for the high-stakes January 15 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, calling it a historic moment for Maharashtra.
The joint press conference took place at a hotel in Worli, where Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut stated that the coming together of Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray marked a turning point in the state’s politics. “Today is a historic day for Maharashtra. The state will stand united with this alliance,” Raut said.
Drawing parallels with the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, Uddhav Thackeray said the reunion was about safeguarding Maharashtra and its people. “This reminds us of the struggle for a united Maharashtra. Shiv Sena fought for the Marathi people, and this year marks 60 years of the party,” he said.
Emphasising unity, Uddhav added, “Raj and I have come together to stay together. We have united to protect the people of Maharashtra.” He urged Marathi-speaking people to remain united, warning that division would weaken their collective strength.
Addressing the gathering, Raj Thackeray said, “Maharashtra is greater than any fight or rivalry,” before formally announcing the alliance. “Today, I announce the alliance of Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena,” he said.
#WATCH | Mumbai | MNS Chief Raj Thackeray announces the alliance of Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS ahead of the Municipal Corporation Elections. pic.twitter.com/FW9wtGldzr
— ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2025
They did not share details of the seat sharing between the two parties. There has been no official word yet as to how the 227 municipal seats will be shared between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS. However, leaders from both parties say the Sena (UBT) may contest around 135 wards, while the MNS could field candidates in about 80 wards. If the Sharad Pawar-led NCP-SP also joins the alliance, it is likely to be offered around 10 to 12 seats, or else these seats, too, will be divided among both parties. Elections to the BMC and 28 other municipal corporations will be held on January 15, 2026, and counting of votes will be done on the next day.
Raj Thackeray said, "Mumbai’s next Mayor will be Marathi from Sena-MNS alliance."
The alliance announcement for the BMC elections was a historic and emotional moment for Maharashtra and Marathi pride. The press conference turned into a full show of strength, with the entire Thackeray family present, including Rashmi Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, Amit Thackeray and Sharmila Thackeray.
The Thackeray cousins are likely to extend their tie-up for the Thane, Kalyan, Navi Mumbai, Nashik, and Pune municipal corporations, too.
Supporters across Mumbai and Maharashtra celebrated the long-awaited political reunion, which ended a two-decade rivalry, while rare and emotional moments highlighted the significance of this alliance.
The event symbolised unity, Marathi identity, and the political consolidation ahead of the 2026 BMC polls.
The Sena (UBT) and MNS alliance is expected to put up a strong fight against BJP and its allies, particularly Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction. The ruling Mahayuti is keen to wrest control of the BMC, long considered the Thackerays’ strongest bastion.
Raj quit the Shiv Sena in 2005, saying he was being sidelined, particularly by Uddhav and his close aides. A year later, he formed the MNS, reviving the “sons of the soil” agenda, the very plank on which his uncle Balasaheb Thackeray founded the Shiv Sena in 1966.
The MNS made its electoral debut in the 2007 Mumbai civic poll, winning seven seats. It performed better in 2012, securing 27 seats, its best performance in the city. However, the party’s strength declined thereafter and in the 2017 election, it won only seven seats, six of which later shifted to Uddhav Thackeray’s camp, when the Shiv Sena was still unified.
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