With BMC Polls Nearing, Uddhav And Raj Thackeray Share Stage For First Time In Nearly Two Decades Amid Marathi Row

In a significant political development, cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray shared a public stage in Mumbai today (5 July), ending a two-decade-long separation, reported NDTV.

Their parties, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), jointly organised the 'Awaj Marathicha' (Voice of the Marathi) rally. This marks their first shared appearance since 2005.

The ruling Mahayuti coalition's recent decision to withdraw a contentious policy, which mandated Hindi as a third language in Maharashtra's primary schools, prompted this show of unity.

Both Uddhav and Raj strongly opposed the proposal, and organisers are positioning the rally as a "victory" for Marathi linguistic identity.

"What Bal Thackeray could not do, what many others could not do, Devendra Fadnavis did - to bring us together," Raj Thackeray stated from the stage.

As the BMC elections draw near, the Thackeray cousins' reunion is being viewed not merely as a cultural gesture, but as a calculated political move with electoral stakes.

Raj and Uddhav last appeared together publicly during the Malvan Assembly by-election campaign in 2005.

At that time, Shiv Sena remained a united entity under Bal Thackeray's leadership.

Narayan Rane, a senior Shiv Sena leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister, had resigned from the party at the time due to internal disagreements, necessitating the by-election.

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