'Easier said than done': As talks of Uddhav-Raj reunion gain momentum, Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS leaders sound caution

Amid growing speculation of a rapprochement between Uddhav Thackeray and his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray leaders from Shiv Sena UBT and MNS have noted that while the prospect is promising challenges related to personal relations and organisational alignment remain to be addressedThe Thackeray cousins have stirred speculation of a possible reunion suggesting they might set aside trivial issues nearly two decades after their split according to PTIMaharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS chief Raj Thackeray has stated that unity for the cause of the Marathi manoos is achievable while former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray expressed willingness to move past minor disputes stressing that those opposing the states interests must not be accommodatedThe Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray on Saturday put up a cryptic post on its social media handles saying Time has come to unite for the sake of Mumbai and Maharashtra Shivsainiks are ready for the protection of Marathi asmita prideThe cousins are currently abroad PTI reported Raj Thackeray is expected to return in the last week of April and Uddhav Thackeray in the first week of MayThe reunion buzz has also come at a time when both the parties have reached a nadir about their electoral performance and are going through their toughest political phaseThe Shiv Sena UBT won 20 seats while the MNS drew a blank in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly ElectionsLeaders of both the parties have however said that though Uddhav Thackerays response to Raj Thackerays call may have sparked speculation it is easier said than doneA Shiv Sena UBT leader said both cousins are of different temperamentsThe past baggage over more than two decades has resulted in mistrust towards each other Raj Thackeray had quit the Shiv Sena in 2005 and blamed Uddhav Thackeray for it He has made it clear several times that he could work under no one but under the late supremo Bal ThackerayLast week Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut said family relations are not severed because of politicsBut personal ties are not just restricted to two individuals it is also about their immediate families especially the sons of both the cousins Aaditya Uddhav Thackeray and Amit Raj Thackeray who are being groomed to helm the organisation eventuallyThis will be different unlike the alliance between the undivided Shiv Sena Congress and the undivided Nationalist Congress Party NCP in 2019 said Prakash Akolkar the author of Jai Maharashtra a book on the history of Shiv SenaThe fight between Uddhav and Raj is personal and a family feud where both brothers are vying for the family assets The assets are not always monetary Here the asset is Bal Thackerays legacy Akolkar stated according to PTIHe said Bal Thackerays wife Meena was the familys matriarch and played a critical role in the party behind the scenesNow the spouses of Uddhav and Raj are matriarchs of their respective parties and will play a similar role if there is any possibility of reconciliation Akolkar added according to PTIMaharashtra Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party BJP leader Nitesh Rane had last week questioned if Uddhav Thackeray had consulted his wife Rashmi before responding to Raj Thackerays statement that triggered speculation of an allianceA Shiv Sena UBT leader acknowledged that the coming together of the two parties is more difficult than it appearsThe prospect of the two cousins coming together has enthused supporters of both parties but it might not be the case with a section of cadres and party leadersWhen we discuss seatsharing agreements in Mumbai how will the seats be divided How will the winnable and nonwinnable seats be divided What about areas like Dadar and Worli where both parties have a strong base What about other cities where Sena UBT and MNS have their strength an MNS leader stated according to PTIThe leader also raised question over the ideologiesWhile Raj Thackeray is fashioning himself into a MarathiHindutva leader Uddhav Thackeray has focused on making his party more inclusive especially warming up to the Muslim communityIf Uddhav has asked us to sever ties with the BJP will he do the same with the Congress asked the MNS leaderLast week MNS spokesperson and partys Mumbai President Sandeep Deshpande asked if Uddhav Thackeray would apologise to the 17000 MNS activists who were slapped with police cases for protesting against loudspeakers outside mosques when he was the chief ministerWith PTI inputsatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params