While steering ailing cousin and Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav from Lilavati Hospital to Matoshree, MNS chief Raj Thackeray drove home the point that family ties run deep in Maharashtra politics, a fact never more in evidence than in times of adversity. It was also an occurrence that gladdened many leaders from both parties, who construed this as — if not a precursor to a possible political alliance in the immediate future — at least a sign of thawing of relations.

United we stand: Uddhav and Raj Thackeray smile for the cameras outside Lilavati hospital. After this photo-op, the MNS chief drove his cousin back home to Matoshree