Will Thackeray cousins unite? Sanjay Raut weighs in, says all talks ’emotional’ now

He then launched the MNS in March 2006.

On Saturday, in response to MNS chief Raj Thackeray, who stated he could “set aside our minor disputes”, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray expressed his willingness to put aside their disagreements for the sake of the Marathi language and the people of Maharashtra.

However, he urged Raj Thackeray not to associate with those who are against the interests of Maharashtra.

Regarding Shiv Sena (UBT), Raut said, “We will accept any decision taken by Uddhav Thackeray. We have conveyed our feelings to our leader as well.” Stating that the relationship between the Thackeray cousins is intact, Raut said, “As a family, they are still in cordial relationship. The relationship is not broken.”

Referring to Uddhav Thackeray’s conditions for a possible alliance with the MNS, Raut said, “I don’t see any terms and conditions set by Uddhav ji”

In a veiled reference to the ruling BJP and Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, Raut said, “What he (Uddhav) said was that a few parties claim to be well-wishers of Maharashtra. But they are the ones working against the state’s interests. They are enemies of Maharashtra. They created a split and broke Bal Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. It was an attack on the pride of Maharashtra. Therefore, Uddhav ji clarified that those willing to make Maharashtra welfare a cause should not have any relations with such parties.”

The talks of Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS willing to unite and set aside differences gained ground on Saturday.

During a podcast with filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar released on Saturday, Raj Thackeray said, “For me, the interest of Maharashtra is bigger while everything else is secondary… I can keep aside our minor disputes.”

Giving a positive response, Uddhav Thackeray, at a party event, said, “The differences are trivial. I am ready to keep it aside. Maharashtra is my priority.”