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Observers say Maharashtra’s political landscape has dramatically changed with Eknath Shinde’s rise, and the Thackeray cousins have been forced to reunite for their shared survival
Estranged cousins Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray reunited publicly after two decades. (Photo Credit: X)
It was an emotional and proud moment for thousands of Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS workers as the Thackeray cousins—Uddhav and Raj—finally came together under one roof at Mumbai’s iconic Worli Dome. The grand event, held to assert Marathi identity and unity, turned into much more than just a political programme.
Since the early noughties, the split between the Thackeray cousins had become symbolic of a divided Marathi vote—and a divided Shiv Sena family. On one side was Uddhav, carrying Balasaheb’s legacy through the official (then undivided) Shiv Sena, and on the other, Raj Thackeray, the fiery orator who left the party in 2006 to form the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) after feeling sidelined in the succession battle.
That split changed the course of Mumbai and Maharashtra politics. Both parties fought the same battles—for Marathi pride, for the rights of locals in India’s biggest metropolis—but did so separately. And each time they did, the biggest winner was someone else: the BJP, the Congress, or lately, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction.
But now, in 2024, when Maharashtra’s political landscape has dramatically changed with Shinde’s rise and Uddhav’s camp fighting for survival, observers say the Thackeray cousins sharing the stage feels like history repeating itself—but this time, to mend old wounds.
Senior leaders like Bala Nandgaonkar, Anil Parab, Sudhir Salvi, and Kishori Pednekar, all old-time Shiv Sainiks, could not hold back tears as they witnessed this moment. Many of them recalled how Balasaheb once tried to keep the family united but could not. To see Uddhav and Raj together, they said, again brought back the spirit of the old Sena—aggressive, unapologetic, and fiercely protective of the Marathi identity. Anil Parab called it a “golden and historic moment” for the Marathi community.
Kishori Pednekar, emotional as always, used a beautiful metaphor: “Just as water cannot be separated by hitting it with a stick, the blood flowing in Raj Thackeray’s veins is the same that flows in Uddhav’s.” She reminded everyone how in 1993, when Mumbai burned, it was the Marathi people—united, fearless—who stood with Balasaheb and the Shiv Sena.
This time too, thousands of Shiv Sainiks and MNS workers flooded Worli Dome to witness what felt like more than just a political handshake—it was a family reunion. For old-time party workers, who stood by Balasaheb in good times and bad, this was the moment they had prayed for—a signal that the divided Marathi voice could once again speak in one, thunderous voice. Almost 20 years after their paths split, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray have shared the stage again in an official, public event. While no formal alliance has been declared yet, many leaders from both camps believe it’s now just a formality.
The symbolism is strong: if Balasaheb couldn’t make them patch up back then, today’s political reality has forced the cousins to come together for their shared survival—and to revive “Brand Thackeray”.
Critics who scoffed at the idea that the Thackeray brothers could bury their differences have fallen silent, at least for now. One thing is certain: if the cousins fight together, the constant splitting of Marathi votes that helped rivals gain an edge may stop. A consolidated Marathi vote bank is powerful. In Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, and parts of Western Maharashtra, this block can swing seats that have recently slipped away from both the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
This reunion is not just a challenge for the BJP, which hoped to corner Marathi votes through its alliance with Shinde’s faction—it’s a direct challenge to Eknath Shinde himself. Shinde’s main pitch since he split from Uddhav has been that his faction is the “real Shiv Sena” carrying forward Babasaheb’s legacy. But with the actual Thackeray bloodline standing together on stage, claiming that same legacy, Shinde’s narrative will be under examination.
In the last assembly elections, Shinde’s faction outperformed Uddhav’s Sena precisely because the Marathi vote was divided three ways—between Uddhav, Raj, and Shinde. If the cousins truly unite, that vote pool will consolidate, and the combined strength of Raj’s oratory and street connect, plus Uddhav’s loyal grassroots network, could pose a serious challenge to Shinde and the BJP.
Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa…Read More
Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa… Read More
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