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Raj Thackeray said that being flexible in political strategy does not amount to compromising one’s ideology, and political labels mattered less than the interests of the state.
MNS Chief Raj Thackeray (PTI/File)
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, who recently allied with his estranged cousin Uddhav Thackeray for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, said he was willing to back even US President Donald Trump to ensure that Maharashtra remained strong.
In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Raj Thackeray asserted that flexibility in political approach did not mean that the ideology was compromised, and that his priority was to ensure the welfare of the Marathi people and language, and a strong Maharashtra.
He also offered an analogy, saying that any method can be used to ensure that water reaches a particular spot, as long as the objective remains “clear and pure”.
Marking their first political alliance in nearly two decades, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray announced a tie-up in December, ahead of the January 15 civic polls in Mumbai and 28 other municipal corporations across Maharashtra.
‘Extremely Marathi’
The MNS chief also described himself as “extremely Marathi” and asserted that his alliance with Shiv Sena’s (UBT) Uddhav Thackeray was solely focused on the Marathi people and language. He rejected the view that this tie-up would be replicated at the state or central level, saying that is a completely “different issue”.
He emphasised that his stance on the Marathi identity was not a political position but stemmed from deeply held beliefs shaped by the values instilled in him by his uncle and Shiv Sena founder, Bal Thackeray.
Raj Thackeray also insisted that he would have no hesitation even in backing someone like Trump, provided it helped strengthen Maharashtra, adding that political labels mattered less than the interests of the state.
He also questioned the Centre’s intent behind declaring Marathi a classical language, saying it had done nothing to support it in financial terms. “Despite the status, not a single rupee has been allotted for Marathi,” he told NDTV, adding that substantial funds are being spent on Sanskrit.
Polling for the BMC, along with 28 other municipal corporations in the state, will be held on January 15. Vote counting is scheduled for January 16.
January 10, 2026, 21:06 IST
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