Uddhav Sena renews pitch for reunion with Raj Thackeray as Shinde Sena steps up MNS outreach

Last month, Shinde had met Raj at his residence, which heightened the possibility of an alliance between the Shiv Sena and the MNS for the upcoming election to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other civic bodies in the state, which are slated to take place later this year.

Raj had also met Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadanvis at his official residence “Varsha” last week.

These meetings between the ruling Mahayuti’s key leaders and the MNS chief have raised a question mark over the prospects of a patch-up between the estranged Thackeray cousins.

After meeting Raj Tuesday, Samant said it was a “courtesy call”, claiming that there was no political discussion during his visit. “I had come to the Dadar area for some work and I only called up Saheb (Raj ). So I came and we discussed some developments. There was no political discussion, which is being speculated. If there was any discussion regarding the BMC polls, then we would have held a press conference to announce it,” he said.

Reacting to the meeting between Samant and Raj, Sena (UBT) MP and spokesman Sanjay Raut said his party had responded “positively” to Raj’s overtures and that the ball was now in the latter’s court.

“Raj Thackeray had started this (reconciliation bid) and we responded positively. We are responding positively today as well. Now it is up to him to respond and we are waiting for the response. We consider Raj Thackeray in high regards, we respect him,” Raut said.

On April 19, both Raj and Uddhav had sent out signals for a possible reunion, saying they were ready to keep aside their “disputes” for the larger interest of the people of Maharashtra.

While speaking at a podcast with filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar, Raj had then set the conciliatory tone and expressed willingness to move beyond “minor disputes” with Uddhav while stressing that the interest of Maharashtra was bigger than personal disagreements.

Responding to it on the same day at a Sena (UBT) trade union event, Uddhav acknowledged the possibility of their reconciliation, saying that he was willing to set aside their differences in the interest of the Marathi people and language.

However, Uddhav had also added a caveat that Raj must not associate with forces like the BJP and the Shinde Sena, which are the adversaries of the Sena (UBT).

Subsequently, both Uddhav and Raj went abroad following which their patch-up exercise appeared to have been put on the backburner.

On April 26, the Sena UBT’s official X handle posted a message in Marathi, “Vel Aaliye Ekatra Yenyachi”, indicating that it was time for the Thackeray cousins to come together.

A few days later, Raut also called for their reconciliation, stating that Uddhav has signalled his willingness in this regard and that it was up to Raj to take his call.

Raj had floated the MNS in March 2006 after quitting the then Bal Thackeray-headed Shiv Sena following differences with Uddhav. Like the Sena, the MNS also centered its politics on the Marathi Manoos issue.

The MNS has however been in political wilderness in the state for several years. In the November 2024 Assembly polls, it drew a blank with 1.55% vote share despite contesting 135 seats out of 288. In 2019, the party could win just one seat with 2.5% vote share.

In the BMC polls, which have traditionally been dominated by the Sena, the MNS had won seven seats out of 227 in 2017, with the Uddhav-led Sena, which was then in alliance with the BJP, emerging as the single largest party with 84 seats.

Uddhav and Raj have had a tumultuous relationship. There have been several instances over the years when even a public meeting between them has set off talks of an alliance and the cousins coming together.

Uddhav has, however, remained wary of Raj’s stance on the BJP, which has fluctuated – from warming up to it at times to occasionally criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi.