In a rare public appearance together, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray reunited at the naming ceremony of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut’s granddaughter in Mumbai. The event, held at the MCA Club in Bandra, became the centre of political attention as the Thackeray cousins — once estranged — were seen laughing and conversing warmly with Raut. Following the function, Raj Thackeray also visited Uddhav’s iconic residence, Matoshree, marking yet another step in the visible thaw between the two leaders.
This public reunion gains particular significance as it comes just months before the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, where both factions of the Shiv Sena and the MNS will be battling to regain political relevance. Sanjay Raut has already hinted that the Thackeray cousins may contest the civic polls together, not only in Mumbai but also in Nashik, Thane, and Kalyan-Dombivli. According to Raut, such a collaboration would symbolise the unity of Marathi voters and reinforce the power of the Thackeray legacy. He even took a veiled swipe at the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Sena faction, declaring that “no malevolent force can break the strength of the Marathi people when united under the Thackeray banner.”
The renewed camaraderie between Uddhav and Raj Thackeray comes after nearly two decades of rivalry and ideological differences that had divided the Thackeray family and fragmented the Shiv Sena’s base. Their first major joint appearance in recent times was at a rally in July, where they celebrated the Maharashtra government’s decision to roll back Hindi as an optional third language in primary schools — a move that was seen as a victory for Marathi identity. The timing of their renewed association, so close to the upcoming civic elections, suggests a calculated political strategy to reclaim their dominance in Mumbai’s political landscape.
For Uddhav Thackeray, the BMC election is more than just another contest — it is a battle for political survival. The undivided Shiv Sena had controlled the Mumbai civic body for over 25 years, making it the party’s most valuable political and financial stronghold. However, after the 2022 split that saw Eknath Shinde break away to form a government with the BJP, Uddhav’s faction has been fighting to prove its legitimacy as the true inheritor of Bal Thackeray’s legacy. The delay in BMC polls since March 2022 has only heightened the stakes, giving rival factions more time to strengthen their positions.
For Raj Thackeray, too, the elections present an opportunity to revive his party’s fading relevance. The MNS has been struggling since it failed to secure even a single seat in the last Maharashtra Assembly elections. An alliance with Uddhav’s Sena could offer Raj a path back into mainstream politics and help consolidate Marathi votes that have been divided for years. However, despite their shared heritage, the path to unity has not been smooth. Their alliance suffered a symbolic setback in August when their combined front lost the BEST Employees’ Co-operative Credit Society elections — considered a warm-up to the BMC polls. The defeat underscored the waning influence of the Thackeray family in Mumbai’s civic politics and highlighted the enormous challenge they face in reviving the Sena’s grassroots network.
Nevertheless, the Thackeray cousins have continued to project solidarity in public. Raj Thackeray’s visits to Matoshree — once during Uddhav’s birthday celebrations and again during Ganesh Chaturthi — have been widely covered in the media, reinforcing the perception of a growing rapprochement. Political analysts suggest that the renewed bond between them is as much emotional as it is strategic, driven by a shared need to counter the BJP’s expanding footprint in Maharashtra and reclaim their family’s political legacy.
The BJP, however, has dismissed the reunion as a desperate move by two weakened leaders trying to stay relevant. Party spokespersons have argued that the Thackerays’ alliance is merely “symbolic” and unlikely to alter the state’s political arithmetic. Yet, for many Marathi voters, the image of Uddhav and Raj standing together after years of division evokes nostalgia for the Shiv Sena’s glory days under Bal Thackeray.
As Mumbai heads toward its most anticipated civic election in years, the Thackeray reunion has infused the political landscape with renewed energy and speculation. Whether this rekindled partnership can translate into electoral success remains uncertain, but one thing is clear — the coming months will test not only their political strategy but also the strength of their shared legacy.
