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The plan initially involved Raj Thackeray leading a rally on July 6 and Uddhav Thackeray organising a separate march on July 7. But after talks, a single joint rally will be held.
The language issue brings together two cousins who have often been on opposing sides of Maharashtra’s fractious political landscape. (Image: PTI)
In a surprising political turn, Maharashtra’s fiery Thackeray brothers — Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray — are set to share a platform after years of sharp differences. The two leaders will lead a joint protest rally on July 6 to oppose what they call the forced imposition of Hindi in the state’s schools and to demand stronger safeguards for the Marathi language. This rare show of unity was confirmed when Sanjay Raut, senior leader from the Uddhav Thackeray camp, took to social media to make a pointed announcement — first in Marathi, then in English. In his post, Raut tagged Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, signaling that the message was meant for Delhi as much as for Mumbai. Declaring that Maharashtra would witness a united fight against Hindi dominance, he underlined that the Thackeray name itself is a brand synonymous with Marathi pride.
The developments gained further weight as leaders from Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) spoke publicly about the need for every Marathi-speaking citizen to stand together. According to MNS leaders, the time has come to resist any attempt to sideline Marathi in schools through policies that allegedly push Hindi more aggressively than ever before.
What makes this moment remarkable is that it brings together two cousins who have often been on opposing sides of Maharashtra’s fractious political landscape. The plan initially involved Raj Thackeray leading a rally on July 6 and Uddhav Thackeray organising a separate march on July 7. But following backchannel discussions, a single massive rally will now be held on July 6 to demonstrate a united front.
Meanwhile, the ruling MVA has dismissed these moves as theatrics timed with the upcoming elections. Senior BJP leaders have claimed there is no official compulsion to enforce Hindi in state-run schools and that the opposition is misleading Marathi-speaking voters for political mileage. They insist that the current government remains fully committed to protecting the primacy of Marathi in Maharashtra’s cultural and educational fabric. Critics from the ruling side have also attacked Uddhav Thackeray, questioning why his concern for Marathi was missing when he was Chief Minister. They accused him of using the language issue to recover lost ground ahead of polls and claim that this sudden embrace of Raj Thackeray is a last-ditch effort to stay politically relevant.
Despite the political crossfire, the prospect of the Thackeray brothers sharing a stage has ignited speculation in Maharashtra’s political circles. Their supporters believe that when it comes to defending Marathi identity, old rivalries can be set aside. For many citizens, this rally could be more than just a protest — it may mark the beginning of a new, if uneasy, understanding between two influential factions that once defined Mumbai’s streets and Maharashtra’s regional politics.
Whether this new alignment lasts beyond the July 6 rally remains to be seen, but for now, the Thackeray brothers’ reunion has certainly captured the state’s attention — and Delhi’s too.
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. He previously worked with…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. He previously worked with… Read More
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