As the junior Thackeray cousins Aaditya and Amit warm up to the idea of an alliance, all eyes are now on Uddhav and Raj Thackeray — on whether they are willing to bury decades-old differences and unite for the cause of Maharashtra and the Marathi people.
MNS leader Amit Thackeray. File pic/Ashish Raje; (right) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray. File pic/Rane Ashish
As the junior Thackeray cousins Aaditya and Amit warm up to the idea of an alliance, all eyes are now on Uddhav and Raj Thackeray — on whether they are willing to bury decades-old differences and unite for the cause of Maharashtra and the Marathi people.
On Thursday, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray’s son, Amit, stated that it’s up to the two brothers — Raj and Uddhav — to pick up the phone and talk if an alliance is to happen. “Alliances don’t happen through media soundbites or newspaper interviews,” Amit said, responding to a query about possible tie-up talks between MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT).
MNS leader Amit Thackeray (in maroon shirt). File pic/Ashish Raje; (right) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray. File pic/Kirti Surve Parade
A few days earlier, Amit’s cousin and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray also signalled a willingness to reconcile. “In the interest of Maharashtra, we are open to joining hands with anyone,” he told reporters.
In April, the Mahayuti government — comprising BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP — issued a controversial order making Hindi mandatory from standards I to V in all Maharashtra schools. The move, introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, made a three-language structure (Marathi, English, and Hindi) compulsory.
The decision backfired, triggering fierce opposition from both MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT). The backlash reignited hopes of a Thackeray family reunion, as both Uddhav and Raj hinted they might come together for the welfare of Marathi-speaking citizens and the state.
However, two months since those hints, there has been no concrete movement. With the BMC elections around the corner, chatter around a potential Thackeray reunion has once again gained momentum.
Fight on for two decades
The cousins have been at loggerheads for 20 years. Shiv Sena, originally founded in 1966 by Balasaheb Thackeray on the 'sons-of-the-soil' plank, split in 2005 when Raj Thackeray walked out due to differences with Uddhav. He launched the MNS in 2006 with a similar ideology.
MNS had a strong debut, winning 13 seats in the 2009 Assembly polls and securing a 5 per cent vote share. However, the party’s influence has steadily declined — winning just one seat in 2014, and failing to open its account in both 2019 and 2024. Its vote share has now dropped to just 1.5 per cent.
Uddhav’s Shiv Sena (UBT) has faced a similar crisis, particularly after the 2022 split led by Shinde. Of the 84 corporators Uddhav had in the 2017 BMC polls, 43 have defected to Shinde’s camp, making the fight to retain Mumbai’s civic body extremely challenging.
With both political heirs struggling to keep their parties relevant, political analysts believe a reunion is not just desirable — it might be their only path to survival.
Calendar of hope?
While alliance talks remain stalled, hopeful party workers from both camps believe any of these symbolic dates could be a begining of a breakthrough:
June 14 Raj Thackeray’s birthday
June 19 Shiv Sena Foundation Day
July 26 Uddhav Thackeray’s birthday
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