A few days earlier, Amit’s cousin Aaditya, who is the son of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, signalled a willingness to reconcile. “In the interest of Maharashtra, we are open to joining hands with anyone”

In April, the Mahayuti government, comprising the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, issued a controversial order making Hindi mandatory from Class 1 to 4 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

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

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