Uddhav, Raj Thackeray Reunite After 20 Years Ahead of BMC Polls

Ending nearly two decades of political estrangement, Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin Raj Thackeray on Wednesday announced a formal alliance ahead of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, scheduled for January 15.

The tie-up between Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) was unveiled at a joint press conference in Mumbai, putting to rest months of speculation about a possible reunion of the Thackeray cousins. Uddhav Thackeray said the alliance was formed with the intent of staying united and safeguarding Mumbai’s interests.

While details of seat-sharing for the high-stakes Mumbai civic polls were not disclosed, Raj Thackeray asserted that the next mayor of Mumbai would be Marathi and would come from their alliance. “The mayor of Mumbai will be Marathi,” he said.

Uddhav Thackeray added that seat-sharing arrangements had already been finalised for the Nashik Municipal Corporation elections, which will also be held on January 15. He said talks were ongoing to extend the alliance to other municipal corporations across Maharashtra, where elections are due in 27 civic bodies.

Taking a swipe at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Uddhav Thackeray said leaders dissatisfied with developments within the BJP were welcome to join their front. Addressing party workers, he also asserted that leadership in Maharashtra belongs to the Thackeray family, declaring that “only a Thackeray can lead Maharashtra.”

Uddhav’s son Aaditya Thackeray described the alliance as a significant moment for Mumbai and Maharashtra, calling it a collective stand for the land and identity of the state.

The BJP, however, launched a sharp counterattack, describing the alliance as a coming together of two “dynastic parties” driven by fear of electoral defeat. BJP leaders claimed the tie-up reflected political insecurity and asserted that the people of Maharashtra continued to back the NDA, citing what they described as visible development in Mumbai under its governance.

The alliance marks a major shift in Maharashtra’s political landscape and sets the stage for a fiercely contested BMC election, widely seen as a bellwether for urban politics in the state.