In a major political development for Maharashtra, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut announced that Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) are set to join forces for the upcoming municipal elections. Raut stated that the Thackeray brothers will contest together—especially in the important districts of Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, and Kalyan-Dombivli.

According to Raut, intensive discussions are ongoing to formalize the alliance, with the unity of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray aimed at rallying the “Marathi Manush” (Marathi-speaking people). He declared, “No force can break the iron fist of the Marathi Manush,” emphasizing that this unity will be a powerful political front.

The renewed closeness comes after the Thackeray brothers jointly launched a movement centered on safeguarding the Marathi language. Their united stance recently led to the Maharashtra government withdrawing mandatory Hindi teaching from classes one to five. The symbolism was further reinforced when Raj Thackeray, after more than a decade, visited Uddhav’s home Matoshree in Bandra to wish him on his 65th birthday—an event that underscored thawing intra-family ties.

However, the BJP has responded with skepticism. Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan taunted that Shiv Sena (UBT) remembers Marathi voters only during elections, claiming recent results show strong Marathi support for the BJP. State BJP MLA Pravin Darekar also questioned whether the Thackeray alliance is genuine or simply Sanjay Raut's speculation.

Regardless, the public declaration by Raut signals a potential reshaping of the political landscape in Maharashtra’s key urban centers, should the Thackeray cousins proceed with their joint campaign.