The occasion was the annual 'Deepotsav' event hosted by MNS at Shivaji Park, Central Mumbai. Pics/Sameer Abedi
The event turned into a rare family gathering as Uddhav Thackeray, former Chief Minister and head of Shiv Sena (UBT), not only attended but inaugurated the celebration, signalling a deepening reconciliation with his cousin and MNS chief Raj Thackeray
In a second vehicle, their sons — Aaditya Thackeray and Amit Thackeray — were seen seated side-by-side, accompanied by Tejas Thackeray and Urvashi Thackeray, their respective siblings. Rashmi Thackeray and Sharmila Thackeray, the spouses of Uddhav and Raj, arrived together in a third car
The most emotional moment came when Kunda Thackeray, Raj’s mother and Uddhav’s maternal and paternal aunt, was seen tearing up at the family reunion
With crucial local body elections — both rural and urban — due before 31 January 2026, leaders from both parties signalled that a formal alliance is now merely a matter of time
This was the seventh meeting between the cousins — and third in October alone — since their surprise reunion on July 5, 2025
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