Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Saturday hailed the reunion of Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray after 19 years as a historic moment for Mumbai and the state of Maharashtra.
Speaking exclusively to IANS, Chaturvedi said, “The coming together of the Thackeray brothers after nearly two decades has generated unprecedented enthusiasm across Mumbai and Maharashtra. As Raj Thackeray himself noted, what Balasaheb Thackeray could not achieve, Devendra Fadnavis has managed to do.” She was referring to the rollback of the controversial Hindi language policy, which sparked the political rapprochement.
The policy rollback by the ruling Mahayuti coalition, which had mandated Hindi as the third language in Maharashtra’s primary schools, triggered a thaw in the political relationship between the estranged cousins. The joint public appearance of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, beaming and sharing the stage, has stirred intense speculation about a possible political alliance ahead of the critical Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.
Asked about the prospects of a formal alliance, Chaturvedi replied, “Absolutely. If the people demand it, both brothers will rise to their responsibilities.”
A union between Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) under Raj Thackeray could significantly reshape Mumbai’s political landscape, challenging the dominance of the BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction.
With Marathi pride politics surging once again, all eyes remain on the Thackeray brothers’ next move — whether this marks a personal reconciliation or the start of a strategic political realignment.
Input IANS
