Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray’s son Amit said it’s up to his father and Uddhav Thackeray to pick up the phone and talk if an alliance is to happen. Pic/X
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
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