Drawn to each other by blood and political causes, such as their stand against the state government’s decision to introduce Hindi for students in Classes 1 to 5, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray announced on Wednesday their alliance ahead of the January 15 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.
The high-stakes elections will see Shiv Sena (UBT), whose chief is Uddhav Thackeray, and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), whose president is Raj Thackeray, contesting under one banner.
“Mumbai’s mayor will be Marathi and will be ours,” said Raj at a joint press conference in Mumbai’s Worli, the constituency of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, with Uddhav saying the two parties have come together to stay together.
Both reiterated that they united for the cause of ‘Marathi manoos’ and Maharashtra, with Uddhav saying seat-sharing for the Nashik Municipal Corporation has been finalised but did not offer clarity on the same.
Elections are due for the Nashik Municipal Corporation on January 15, along with Mumbai and 27 other municipal corporations in the state.
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Uddhav said their grandfather, Prabodhankar Thackeray, a social reformer and writer, was a key figure in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement and so were his father Bal Thackeray and uncle Shrikant, Raj Thackeray’s father, who played a role in ensuring that Mumbai continues to be a part of the state.
The backdrop banner at the news conference had the image of Bal Thackeray, the founder of undivided Shiv Sena, and party symbols of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS.
“Talks are underway for an alliance between the two parties in other civic bodies,” he added.
Additionally, the two also invited those “who can’t bear to see what is happening in the BJP”.
The much-awaited news conference saw both Uddhav and Raj travelling to the venue in one vehicle, although the conference itself lasted only around 16 minutes.
Prior to coming to the venue, Raj and Uddhav paid respect to Bal Thackeray at his memorial in Shivaji Park.
Meanwhile, family bonhomie was on full display at the press conference, with Uddhav’s wife Rashmi and son Aaditya, and Raj’s wife Sharmila and son Amit also being present.
In the state assembly polls last year, the Shiv Sena (UBT) won 20 of the 288 seats, while the MNS drew a blank.
The parties then came together to oppose Maharashtra’s government’s decision to introduce a three-language formula in schools and “imposition” of Hindi language, against which they held a joint ‘victory rally’ in July to celebrate the state government’s decision to withdraw its orders on the introduction of Hindi along with Marathi and English for Classes 1 to 5.
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