The Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena has joined hands with the hard core regional organisation Sambhaji Brigade in what the former CM says, is ‘a union of ideology’.  The hardcore regional organisation is known for vandalising Pune’s Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, over alleged objectionable content about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in a book authored by American writer James Laine, and intimidating personalities it had accused of misrepresenting historical accounts.

The political union came into being with Thackeray and Sambhaji Brigade office-bearers making an official announcement in Mumbai on Friday. Though the Sena had opposed the Brigade regarding its acts, Thackeray said that the two would work on the differences and a common minimum programme that would save the Constitution and stop ‘cultural terrorism’. What has brought them together is a common political enemy—the Bharatiya Janata Party.