MUMBAI, July 13 — Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday called for a formal political alliance between party chief Uddhav Thackeray and his estranged cousin, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray, asserting that their unity could redefine the political landscape of Maharashtra.
In his weekly column Rok Thok published in the Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana, Raut said the coming together of the Thackeray cousins “has given confidence to the Marathi manoos,” but stressed that a full-fledged alliance is still pending. “It is necessary that there is an alliance. Only then will Maharashtra get a new direction,” he wrote.
Raut’s remarks come a week after Uddhav and Raj Thackeray shared a public stage for the first time in nearly two decades, opposing the state government’s now-withdrawn order mandating Hindi as a medium of instruction from Class 1. On that occasion, Uddhav declared, “We have come together to stay together.”
The reunion followed Raj Thackeray’s earlier comments in April, where he described their past differences as “trivial,” suggesting that unity in defense of Marathi pride was not only possible but necessary.
While political speculation around a potential alliance continues, Raut criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging it has no stake in safeguarding Maharashtra’s unity or its linguistic identity. “The BJP’s policy is to first loot Mumbai, then make Mumbai a Union Territory, push for a separate Vidarbha, and ultimately dismantle the state,” he claimed.
He accused Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of historically supporting the idea of Vidarbha statehood, recalling past protests in which Fadnavis carried placards reading, “Vidarbha is my only state.”
“If the unity of the Thackeray brothers does not hold, then Mumbai will be swallowed by Adani and Lodha. One day, it will no longer remain a part of Maharashtra,” Raut warned.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader claimed the growing closeness between Uddhav and Raj has left the ruling BJP “rattled,” both in Delhi and Mumbai. He took a swipe at Fadnavis for recently meeting Raj Thackeray at a Mumbai hotel, saying the encounter was meant to stir political waters.
“MNS president Raj Thackeray will speak on this and clear the confusion,” Raut added, hinting at internal discussions underway.
He also underscored the urgency of political focus on Mumbai and Thane ahead of the impending municipal elections, saying, “The Marathi manoos must first fight the battle for Mumbai and Thane.”
While there is no formal announcement yet, the evolving dynamic between the Thackeray cousins signals a potential realignment in Maharashtra politics as both leaders increasingly present themselves as defenders of Marathi asmita (pride) in the face of what they allege is cultural dilution under BJP rule.
