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Mumbai<\/strong>: In a significant political and personal gesture, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has visited the residence of his estranged cousin, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, after more than two decades. The visit, which took place on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, is being seen by political observers as a major step towards reconciliation between the two leaders, potentially reshaping the political landscape of Maharashtra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While some critics argue that the reunion is a desperate move after a series of electoral setbacks, others believe it is a strategic step to reclaim the “Thackeray brand” and its historical hold over Mumbai’s political narrative.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Mumbai: In a significant political and personal gesture, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has visited the residence of his estranged cousin, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, after more than two decades. The visit, which took place on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, is being seen by political observers as a major step…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6094,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6093","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-maharashtra"],"yoast_head":"\n
The last time Uddhav and Raj were known to have a public or personal meeting was around 2005, when Raj Thackeray split from the Shiv Sena to form his own party. Their reunion has been a topic of much speculation in recent months, fueled by a series of joint public appearances, including a massive rally in Mumbai to protest the state government’s “imposition” of Hindi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Experts believe that this renewed camaraderie between the two Thackeray cousins could have a significant impact on the Marathi vote bank, especially with the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections looming. The Shiv Sena, under the leadership of Bal Thackeray, had always enjoyed the unwavering support of the Marathi-speaking community. However, the split between the two cousins and the rise of other political factions have fragmented this support base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to political analysts, a potential alliance between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS could consolidate the Marathi votes and pose a serious challenge to the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which includes the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the BJP. The two leaders have already hinted at working together, with Uddhav reportedly stating, “We have come together to stay together.” Raj Thackeray also publicly credited Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for “doing what even Balasaheb could not do,” by bringing them together.
The visit, which was accompanied by family photos and a public display of unity, is seen as a strong signal to their respective party cadres and the public that they are putting aside their past differences for a common political cause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n