“Even my greatest enemy wouldn’t want a day like today. Respect was all I had asked for. I was only insulted and humiliated. Raj Thackeray, then 36, spoke at a press conference at Shivaji Park Gymkhana on December 18, 2005. He declared in an emotional voice that he was leaving the Shiv Sena, a party that his uncle, flamboyant leader Bal Thackeray, had formed. Raj Thackeray would establish the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena three months later.
Uddhav, the 44-year-old son of Raj’s cousin and Bal Thackeray, addressed the media at another press conference held at Matoshree, the Thackeray home in Bandra, Mumbai. Raj made a mistake that led to his decision. After his uprising on November 27, we hoped that the disagreements would be settled amicably. However, even after seeing Bal Thackeray on December 15, he remained unmoved,” he claimed. Bal Thackeray expressed sadness about his nephew’s choice, according to Uddhav. The fiery Sena leader refrained from addressing the press.
Raj-Uddhav Reunion?
Much water has gone down the Godavari river in the twenty years since that press conference. The MNS is now a young political force that first had some success with its Marathi Manoos pitch. After the Uddhav Thackeray government was overthrown by a mutiny led by Eknath Shinde, the Shiv Sena, which Raj Thackeray had deserted, split in 2022. The two separated cousins, Raj and Uddhav, have given vague indications that they might reconcile twenty years after their split, which has shocked political circles in Maharashtra and the nation.
Raj Thackeray and Udhav Thackeray Response:
The message sent by the estranged cousins is that, when weighed against Maharashtra’s interests, their disputes are negligible. “Uddhav and I have a few little arguments and fights. Maharashtra is far more expansive than any of that. The Marathi people and the existence of Maharashtra are suffering as a result of these differences. It’s not hard to come together. It comes down to willpower. In a podcast, Raj Thackeray stated, “It’s not just about my desire or selfishness.”
Although he had a condition, Uddhav Thackeray stated that he was amenable to this reunion. “There is a requirement before I agree to set aside trivial disagreements. Supporting them one day, opposing them the next, and then compromising again is not something we can continue to do. I will not welcome, invite home, or sit with anyone who acts against the interests of Maharashtra. At an occasion, he stated, “Let’s make this clear first.” Raj Thackeray’s shifting political loyalties, including his backing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi before the general election in 2024, were something the Sena (UBT) president was referring to.
According to Sanjay Raut, a close aide of Uddhav Thackeray and a Rajya Sabha MP, there is currently no alliance. “An alliance does not exist. Right now, only sentimental conversations are taking place. The brothers are Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray. We’ve spent years together. We are still together. “The alliance will be decided by both brothers,” he stated.
Personal Peace Or Political Strategy:
In numerous interviews over the years, Raj Thackeray has stated that he has no ill will toward his cousin and that his disagreements with Uddhav Thackeray are political rather than personal. But it’s also important to consider political realities when evaluating his invitation to unite. In the 2009 Maharashtra election, the 2006-founded MNS had an outstanding electoral debut by winning 13 seats. However, this happiness was fleeting. MNS drew a blank in the state polls last year and gained one seat in the elections in 2014 and 2019. Raj Thackeray is battling for political survival since the party has been having political difficulties.
However, Uddhav Thackeray suffered a severe blow when his government was overthrown and the Shiv Sena was split by an uprising led by Eknath Shinde.
From Victory to Disappointment
He also lost his party name and symbol, which made the situation worse. In the Lok Sabha elections last year, he led his new party, Shiv Sena (UBT), to nine seats, marking a remarkable comeback and increasing expectations for a strong showing in the state elections later in 2024. However, the election for the Assembly was disappointing. Eknath Shinde, a fierce adversary of Thackeray’s, led his party to win 57 seats, while the Sena (UBT) took home 20 of the 92 seats it ran for. As they prepare to tear down the wall separating them, the Thackeray cousins would also be weighing the advantages and disadvantages of uniting politically and electorally.
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