After 20 years, Uddhav & Raj Thackeray reunite ahead of BMC polls MUMBAI: The long-awaited political reunion of the Thackeray brothers came after 20 years, with the two joining hands ahead of the BMC polls on Wednesday.Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) announced an alliance for the BMC and other civic body elections, shortly after Uddhav and Raj Thackeray paid tribute to Balasaheb Thackeray at Shivaji Park.

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Addressing a joint press conference with MNS chief Raj Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray asserted the permanence of the tie-up, saying, “We have come together to stay together.”Uddhav Thackeray said the alliance was open to others as well, adding,“Those who can’t bear to see what is happening within BJP can also come with Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance.”Raj Thackeray added, “Mumbai’s mayor will be Marathi and will be ours.” With their agreement on seat-sharing finalised, the two parties will contest the upcoming municipal corporation polls together. The formal announcement was made at a joint press conference at Worli.Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said, “This is a very auspicious moment, and the people of Maharashtra have been waiting for this moment… Mumbai accommodates everyone within itself. We have never looked at caste or anyone’s religion. We have always spoken about Marathis and sons of the soil.”For both party workers it means the end of years of political distance between the two cousins. The cadres hope that after the drubbing in the Panchayat polls the BMC elections will bring better news for the parties.Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey said, “Today is a historic day, where both (Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray) Thackeray brothers are coming together, on one platform, to save Mumbai… The way people want to loot Mumbai, want to keep it mortgaged to themselves, against that we want to launch a public movement. The people of Mumbai want both Thackeray brothers to come together… We are fully confident that in the coming times, along with Mumbai, there will be the echo of a strong government of Shiv Sena and MNS in 28 other municipal corporations…”MNS leader Yashwant Killedar said, “Two brothers are coming together, and we have been waiting for this moment for a long time. What is happening today is a matter of happiness for us. Workers of both parties are very excited.”The Eknath Shinde faction however sees this coming together of the Thackeray cousins as nothing more than a photo opportunity that they feel will do little to upset them.Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said,” I think it is a great photo opportunity and emotional cards will be played. But what will be there for the people? It is good that brothers are coming together. But the question is, why did the separate and divide Marathi-speaking people and take them for granted over the last 20 years? They have not given an answer to this yet?”

According to Sena (UBT) functionaries, the proposed seat-sharing formula for the BMC allocates 145 to 150 seats to Sena (UBT), 65 to 70 seats to the MNS, while 10 to 12 seats are to be given to the NCP (SP). Sena (UBT) has also “left” 12 to 15 seats where it earlier had corporators for the MNS; in a majority of these wards, the former corporators have since joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.Raut said “the issue regarding Congress is currently closed, but Sena (UBT) will continue to talk to Congress till the end.” Congress has decided to go it alone in the BMC polls.He added that the final touches to the alliance were completed late Monday night. “The Sena (UBT) and MNS workers have accepted the alliance. There is no disagreement over seat-sharing. The alliance was formed when the two brothers came together in Worli in July,” he said.Raut further said, “The issue of seat-sharing in Nashik, Pune, KDMC, Thane, Mira Bhayandar is over. Discussions are underway with NCP (SP) MLA Jayant Patil regarding an alliance. He is also in talks with Uddhav Thackeray.”However, the alliance has triggered sharp reactions from rival Shiv Sena leaders. Expressing strong disapproval, Shiv Sena leader Raju Waghmare criticised the cousins’ visit to Balasaheb Thackeray’s memorial and accused both leaders of betraying his legacy.Shiv Sena leader Raju Waghmare said, “Raj and Uddhav Thackeray are going to go to Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shivaji Park Smriti Sthal to pay homage to him. Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray, our idol, will never forgive these two brothers because Raj Thackeray betrayed Balasaheb Thackeray and gave him a big scar. Uddhav Thackeray, on the other hand, betrayed Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology. Balasaheb Thackeray will never forgive them; the Marathi people will never forget this. No matter what they do now, it will not help them. When it comes to seat sharing, their party workers are very nervous and angry because they have been fighting against each other for almost the last two decades, and now they have to sacrifice their seats…”Congress, which has been an ally of the Sena (UBT) at the state level, has not joined the civic poll alliance but sees political significance in the reunion of the Thackeray cousins, claiming it signals cracks within the ruling Mahayuti.Congress leader Atul Londhe said, “Today’s news is that Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar are going to come together. Does this mean that the Mahayuti has suffered a split?”The Maharashtra State Election Commission has announced elections to 29 municipal corporations, including the BMC, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Polling will be held on January 15, with counting scheduled for January 16.Meanwhile, the ruling Mahayuti—comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP—has dominated recent local body elections across 286 municipalities and nagar panchayats. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, congratulating BJP workers, said the results were a “trailer” for the upcoming civic polls.