In a striking political development, estranged cousins Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray reunited after two decades, staging a high-profile rally in Mumbai under the banner of Marathi pride. The timing is strategic: with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections approaching, both leaders seem keen on reviving their political fortunes by riding the wave of regional identity and language sentiment.
While the rally, titled ‘Awaj Marathicha’ (Voice of the Marathi), projected unity, many observers believe it was more about political survival than emotional reconciliation. As their respective parties have faced dwindling relevance in recent years, the Thackeray cousins appear to be banking on Marathi linguistic extremism to regain lost ground and position themselves as champions of regional pride. The optics are clear: in a state where Hindutva is now crowded territory with the BJP in command, language politics might be the only turf left for them to reclaim.
The Split: A Battle of Ego, Legacy, and Succession
The origins of the rift between Uddhav and Raj Thackeray go back to the early 2000s, when Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray named his son Uddhav as the party’s working president in January 2003. Although Raj Thackeray had long been seen as Balasaheb’s natural political heir due to his charisma and public appeal, the announcement shattered that perception. Party insiders say Raj felt deeply humiliated, and his supporters were increasingly sidelined within the party hierarchy.
The final blow came in November 2005 when Raj Thackeray officially resigned from Shiv Sena in a dramatic press conference. His emotional exit from the party he helped build was laced with disappointment: “All I had asked for was respect. All I got was insult and humiliation,” he said, without directly naming Uddhav.
Following the split, Raj floated his own political outfit, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which initially drew traction with its aggressive pro-Marathi stance. However, both Uddhav and Raj gradually lost political relevance over the years. Uddhav’s stint as Chief Minister under the MVA alliance ended controversially, and Raj’s MNS failed to make significant electoral impact post-2009.
Creating a New Maratha Sentiment: Targeting Migrants Again?
The renewed call for Marathi pride comes with an old script. In recent months, several incidents have been reported across Mumbai and parts of Maharashtra where non-Marathi street vendors, especially those from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, have been harassed and attacked for not speaking Marathi. Videos surfaced of MNS cadres questioning and even manhandling vendors, reminiscent of Raj Thackeray’s early days of political relevance in 2008 when his party launched similar campaigns.
Now, with the BMC polls around the corner, the Thackeray cousins are once again playing the language card. The controversy surrounding the state’s now-withdrawn three-language policy, which included mandatory Hindi for Classes 1-5, provided them an ideal opportunity to drum up linguistic sentiments. Both leaders vehemently opposed the move and framed it as an imposition on Marathi identity.
Raj Thackeray went as far as warning the BJP: “Try putting your hands on Mumbai or Maharashtra, and you will see what happens.” The underlying message was clear: Marathi people must control Mumbai, and outsiders who don’t assimilate linguistically should be shown their place. It’s the same old playbook that once fetched Raj support but also drew strong criticism for promoting xenophobia.
The BMC Prize: A Battle for Control Over Mumbai
The real political prize in this reunion, however, is the BMC. Asia’s richest civic body, with a budget larger than some Indian states, is due for elections soon. Both Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS have struggled in recent years, losing their grip over Mumbai. The BJP, on the other hand, has made significant inroads since the 2017 BMC elections.
Uddhav Thackeray openly stated that the cousins will “capture power in Mumbai and then the state.” He added, “We have come together to stay together,” but the undertone was unmistakably political. This is a calculated alliance, possibly temporary, aimed at consolidating Marathi votes and preventing further fragmentation of the regional vote bank.
With the BJP eyeing a clean sweep and the Congress still hesitant about joining forces, the Uddhav-Raj duo could position themselves as a regional bulwark against the rising tide of national parties.
Political Reunion or Temporary Convenience?
The question that looms large is whether this reunion will last beyond the BMC elections. While the rhetoric of “Marathi unity” sounds emotionally compelling, past experiences suggest otherwise. The Thackeray cousins have fundamentally different political styles and ambitions. Raj is still seen as a firebrand leader, while Uddhav, after his chief ministerial stint, now projects a softer, administrative image.
Moreover, the fact that they are uniting now, after two decades, precisely when their political capital is at an all-time low, raises questions about sincerity. Their silence on core development issues, lack of concrete policy alternatives, and overreliance on language-based identity politics may eventually expose the hollowness of this new-found unity.
Will the Unity Last or Crumble Again?
History is not on their side. Political alliances based solely on cultural sentiment and shared surnames rarely endure unless backed by coherent vision and mass appeal. While the optics of the Raj-Uddhav reunion are powerful, only time will tell if this bond is forged in genuine conviction or sheer electoral desperation. One thing is certain: if the alliance fails again, the Marathi voter might not be as forgiving the next time around.
