The Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray may soon ‘merge’ or form an alliance with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena led by his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray. Both leaders have hinted at a reconciliation in recent weeks — insisting that they could ignore “trivial issues” and join hands. Members of the Shiv Sena (UBT) have also evinced interest in a a tie-up between the Thackeray cousins, nearly two decades after a bitter parting of ways.
“Whatever is in the minds of the people of Maharashtra will happen. I will give the news soon,” Uddhav Thackeray said on Friday.
The former Chief Minister also insisted that there was no confusion in the minds of the workers from both the parties about the situation. He had previously claimed he was ready to put aside trivial fights — provided those working against Maharashtra’s interests were not entertained. Meanwhile Raj Thackeray has said that uniting in the interest of Marathi manoos (Marathi-speaking people) was not difficult.
The MNS chief had left the undivided Shiv Sena in 2005 after party founder Bal Thackeray announced Uddhav as his successor. He had formed the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena a year later and won 13 seats in the 2009 polls. The party had seen a gradual waning of its influence and failed to secure any constituencies during the 2024 Assembly elections.
Members of the Shiv Sena (UBT) have also backed calls for a reconciliation with party leader Sunil Prabhu insisting on Tuesday that the his party sincerely wished that both the cousins would unite. Fellow party leader Aaditya Thackeray had also said towards the end of May that his party responded to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s “call” for rapprochement and that seniors from that party should step up to take it forward.
“Even the wish of the Marathi ‘manoos’ is that both the cousins come together. Both the (cousins) brothers will decide on this,” Prabhu said.
“When they talked about it, we responded. Their seniors should come forward. We are there where we were (in the past). For the betterment of the country, Maharashtra and society, we welcome those with an open heart who are against the anti-Maharashtra BJP and (Eknath) Shinde,” Aaditya Thackeray had added.
(With inputs from agencies)