Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray met once again on Sunday, this time at a personal family event, adding to growing speculation about a possible political alliance ahead of the upcoming local body elections in Maharashtra, the PTI reported.
The Thackeray cousins were seen together at the naming ceremony of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut’s grandchild in Mumbai.
Videos shared on social media showed Raj Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray, his son Aaditya Thackeray, and party leaders Anil Desai and Milind Narvekar chatting in a light-hearted mood.
This marks yet another public interaction between the Thackerays, whose meetings have become more frequent since July, when they appeared together at a joint “victory” rally celebrating the state government`s decision to withdraw its controversial three-language rule for students of Classes 1 to 5.
The rule had earlier this year sparked concerns about the imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra, where Marathi is the dominant language.
In recent months, both leaders have visited each other’s residences.
Uddhav met Raj’s mother at the MNS chief’s Dadar home, ‘Shivtirth’, in August during the Ganesh festival.
Raj Thackeray had also visited ‘Matoshree’, Uddhav’s residence in Bandra, to wish him on his birthday in July.
Although Raj Thackeray had split from the undivided Shiv Sena in 2005 after a fallout with Uddhav Thackeray, recent electoral setbacks for both the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS in the 2024 assembly polls appear to have softened relations between the two.
There has been increasing speculation that the two may join forces for upcoming local elections, including for the influential Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), although no formal alliance has yet been announced.
If such an alliance materialises, the BJP — currently the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s primary political adversary — would likely be their main rival.
Uddhav’s party remains part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), along with the Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP).
Despite the growing alliance buzz, the two parties faced a setback in August when a joint panel supported by the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS failed to win any of the 21 seats in the BEST Employees’ Cooperative Credit Society Ltd election.
(with PTI inputs)
