Until the BJP and the Shiv Sena snapped ties on September 25, the only political line that united the Thackeray cousins was their admiration for Narendra Modi. Modi continues to unite them even now but as a mutual rival:

Raj Thackeray, then

Modi should be PM

Our MPs who get elected will support Narendra Modi. He should become the prime minister. For the sake of our countrys future, our MPs will support him

- March 10

I was the first one to say that Modi should become the PM. I said this in 2011 when I visited Gujarat and saw the work he had done. Even the BJP had not thought of him becoming the PM at that time

- April 20

People have elected him as Prime Minister...He should be given some time to show results

- August 17

Raj Thackeray, now

Larger design for Mumbai

Can you imagine a prime minister holding 23 rallies for the Maharashtra assembly polls... There is a larger design behind this campaign... It is aimed at wielding control of the financial capital of India

- October 7

Uddhav Thackeray, then

Need someone like Modi to save country

Until now, barring Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Indian opposition parties lacked an acceptable face before fighting elections. This time, people have a choice... A strong party and a good face in the form of Modi

- March 30

We need someone like Narendra Modi to save this country

- April 17

Uddhav Thackeray, now

Like the army of

Afzal Khan

They have seen the (Modi) wave in Lok Sabha elections... Now, the people of this state will show them what a wave means. We shall not rest till we install a Sena chief minister

- September 27

They get the Prime Minister to campaign for them and then the entire cabinet of the PM comes here to campaign for them. These people are like the army of Afzal Khan trying to conquer this state

- October 7