Speaking to the media, MNS chief Avinash Jadhav mentioned celebration employees have already began their groundwork. “The Opposition has realised what’s going to occur if the brothers come collectively. For the alliance to happen, our conferences have began. We as employees have additionally began engaged on floor,” he mentioned.

Nevertheless, Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut denied that the assembly was political, stating that it was beforehand organized by the cousins and that discussions went on for almost 2 hours and 45 minutes. “When Uddhav ji had gone to Raj’s home throughout Ganapati, Raj’s mom and Uddhav’s aunt instructed him that since there are too many individuals now, you come once more and meet me peacefully. And that’s the reason he went to Raj’s home right now,” he added.

The BJP, in the meantime, maintained a peaceful tone on the developments.

“We give them finest needs. Might they arrive collectively politically or as a household. We don’t have any points. The brothers obtained separated due to politics. If they’re additionally coming collectively for politics, we now have nothing to do with it,” BJP MLA and Maharashtra Income Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule instructed the media.

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Conferences since July

Hypothesis over an alliance between the Thackerays have been sturdy for the previous couple of months. The primary main indication was the joint rally held on 5 July when the cousins shared a stage for the primary time in almost 20 years, declaring victory after the Mahayuti withdrew authorities resolutions (GRs) which launched a three-language coverage in state-run major colleges.

The cousins then met once more that very same month, when Raj paid Uddhav a shock go to on the latter’s birthday, additional indicating a thaw of their private relationship.

The third assembly was on the event of Ganesh Chaturthi on 27 August, when Uddhav visited Raj’s home for the primary time because it was constructed.

Raj-Uddhav alliance

Earlier this yr, MNS chief Raj Thackeray mentioned on a podcast that he can put aside his variations with cousin Uddhav if the Sena (UBT) chief was prepared.

That very same day, Uddhav responded positively to the olive department.

However this was not the primary time Raj had reached out to Uddhav.

Raj walked out of the undivided Shiv Sena in 2005 after Bal Thackeray introduced Uddhav as his successor. He fashioned the MNS the following yr. In 2012, after the demise of Bal Thackeray, the estranged cousins have been seen collectively for the primary time because the cut up.

Raj has been sending feelers to Uddhav during the last decade, and Uddhav did reply to a few of these. However there was no vital progress.

The overtures picked up tempo in April 2025, when the Maharashtra authorities launched Hindi because the third language for state-run major colleges. This prompted the estranged cousins to return collectively on the language concern, fuelling speculations over an upcoming alliance.

Though Raj and Uddhav indicated prior to now that they need to type an alliance, the state of affairs is totally different now, given the cut up within the Shiv Sena with Eknath Shinde taking management of the celebration in 2022.

Though throughout 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Uddhav’s celebration as a part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) bagged 9 of the state’s 48 parliamentary seats, within the meeting elections later that very same yr, it suffered one in every of its worst defeats, successful solely 20 of the state’s 288 meeting seats.

As for MNS, after successful 13 seats within the 2009 meeting polls, its fortunes began dwindling. MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s son Amit couldn’t even win his maiden election in 2024, shedding to Mahesh Sawant of the Sena (UBT) in Mahim meeting constituency.

With the cousins now displaying willingness to return collectively for native physique polls, seat sharing will stay a problem as each Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS largely share the identical voter base. Apart from, whether or not MNS joins MVA or Sena (UBT) leaves MVA and joins palms with MNS additionally must be seen.

Congress, however, has welcomed the cousins coming collectively,  stating that they’ll take a name on the alliance solely after extra readability. Chatting with the media, senior Congress chief Vijay Waddetiwar mentioned, “We met Uddhav Thackeray two days again and mentioned what might be Congress’s stand if Raj and Uddhav come collectively. The Congress celebration’s stand shall be determined by our excessive command. On the state degree, we’re blissful that two brothers are coming collectively. An enemy of our enemy is our pal is our stand.”

(Edited by Saksham Thakur)

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