MUMBAI: The Thackeray cousins — Uddhav and Raj — and their families met over lunch on Sunday, a sign of increasing bonhomie among the once estranged families.
This is the sixth meeting between Uddhav, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and Raj, the MNS founder-president. Around noon, Raj, accompanied by his mother Kunda Tai, wife Sharmila, son Amit, daughter-in-law Mitali and grandson drove to Matoshree, the residence of Uddhav. At Matoshree, they were welcomed by Uddhav, his wife Rashmi and their sons Aaditya and Tejas.
Political circles in Maharashtra have been abuzz with the growing proximity between Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.
Once estranged cousins and fierce political rivals, the two leaders have met five times in a span of just three months- a development that has sparked speculation about a possible alliance ahead of the upcoming civil elections in Mumbai.
The political messaging on part of Uddhav and Raj – in public fora – is very big ahead of local bodies elections in Maharashtra during which 29 municipal corporations, 257 municipal councils, 26 zilla parishads, 289 panchayat samitis would go to polls – which accounts for over 60 per cent of state’s population spread across the five geographical regions – Konkan, Western Maharashtra, North Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha.
The meetings amplified the buzz for an alliance between the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in the run up to the make-or-break local bodies elections in the state. While Uddhav is a key leader of the Maha Vikas Aghadi-INDIA opposition bloc, Raj had earlier supported the BJP-led NDA in 2024 Lok Sabha polls but contested the subsequent Vidhan Sabha polls independently.
The Sunday luncheon comes before Tuesday’s meeting of opposition parties with the Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra. The delegation would include the leadership of opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi – NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, state Congress President Harshavardhan Sapkal.
MNS founder-President Raj Thackeray, who is not yet formally part of the MVA though an electoral alliance with the Shiv Sena (UBT), will also join in.
