&w=3840&q=100)
After 20 years, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray to share stage for 'victory rally'
New Delhi
After nearly 20 years of political estrangement, Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray will come together on Saturday for a joint "mega victory gathering" in Mumbai. The event will celebrate the Maharashtra government's decision to roll back the contentious three-language policy that mandated Hindi as a compulsory subject in primary schools, news agency PTI reported.
This rare show of unity between the cousins, known for championing the cause of Marathi pride and language, comes just ahead of the upcoming local body elections, including the crucial polls for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
From estrangement to alliance
Their joint appearance on Saturday will take place at the NSCI Dome in Worli, a stronghold of Aaditya Thackeray, Uddhav's son and a prominent leader of the Sena (UBT).
The celebration, although branded as apolitical, carries significant political undertones. Both parties have instructed their cadres not to display flags, banners, or party symbols. Still, the event is being closely watched, as both the Sena (UBT) and MNS are struggling to regain electoral ground after poor performances in the 2024 state assembly elections. The Sena (UBT) won 20 seats, while the MNS failed to secure any.
Protests, violence, and victory
The celebration follows a series of protests led by both parties opposing the state government's April 16 decision to make Hindi compulsory for classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools. The backlash led to an amended order on June 17, which made Hindi optional, and the complete withdrawal of the earlier orders on June 29.
The same day, Sena (UBT) and MNS leaders burned copies of the government order and announced a protest march. Claiming moral victory after the government's rollback, they decided to convert the protest into a celebration instead.
However, the lead-up to the rally has not been without controversy. MNS workers were recently seen assaulting a street vendor for not speaking Marathi, while two people were publicly made to apologise in the presence of Sena (UBT) leader Rajan Vichare, PTI reported.
Allies absent, but others join in
Although the Congress party supports the anti-Hindi imposition stand, it will not participate in the event. State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal confirmed their absence. NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar will also skip the function, citing prior engagements, though senior leaders like Supriya Sule or Jitendra Awhad may represent the party, PTI reported.
Both parties have invited activists, writers, artists, and other political outfits to join the gathering.
A day before the event, Sena (UBT) and MNS workers jointly distributed sweets and waved party flags in Thane. Large posters of Uddhav and Raj were put up across the city, while the Koli community held a special prayer at the Aai Ekvira Temple in Thane, praying for continued unity between the Thackeray cousins.
(With PTI inputs)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
7 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Rupee slips on Trump's additional 10% Brics tariff; opens lower at 85.57/$
The Indian Rupee fell on Monday as US President Donald Trump threatened to impose an additional 10 per cent on countries aligning with Brics policies. The domestic currency opened 18 paise lower at 85.57 against the dollar on Monday, according to Bloomberg. All Asian currencies traded in the red with Thai Baht leading the fall, as caution loomed over the US reciprocal tariff deadline. The currency has appreciated 0.17 per cent so far this month, after having fallen 0.18 per cent in the first six months of the calendar year. President Trump, on Monday, threatened to levy an additional 10 per cent tariff on any country aligning itself with 'the Anti-American policies of BRICS,' fueling more uncertainty in the markets. 'Any country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10 per cent Tariff,' Trump said in a Truth Social post. 'There will be no exceptions to this policy.' The group's leaders, over the weekend, agreed to continue talks on a cross-border payment system for trade and investments, according to a Bloomberg report. Trump had previously threatened to slap 100 per cent levies on Brics in case they drop the dollar in bilateral trade. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNN that several major agreements are nearing completion, according to reports. As others remain out of reach, he added that some deals may include a three-week extension option. However, India and the US are likely to take a final decision on the 'mini trade deal' in the next 24-48 hours, as per media reports. The Indian Rupee has remained range-bound over the past few days, trading between 85.30 and 85.60, analysts said. Nationalised banks have been buying dollars on dips, while exporters and other inflows have been selling on upticks, according to Anil Kumar Bhansali, head of treasury and executive director at Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP. Exporters are awaiting a move towards 86 to hedge, while importers are eyeing 85, he said. "In the meantime, market participants can cover their daily and weekly requirements. Today's opening is around 85.50, with an expected range of 85.30–85.80."
Scroll.in
12 minutes ago
- Scroll.in
Bihar electoral rolls revision: No change in instructions on procedure, clarifies EC
The Election Commission on Sunday clarified that there was 'no change in instructions' on the special intensive revision of the electoral rolls in Bihar. Earlier in the day, the office of the Bihar chief electoral officer had said that all measures were being taken to facilitate voters to complete their documentation as part of the revision exercise. 'These existing voters will have time to submit the documents even after first submitting their Enumeration Forms,' the chief electoral officer had said. The chief electoral officer had issued public notices in Hindi newspapers on Sunday saying that if voters were unable to submit their documents, they could submit only enumeration forms to block-level officers. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge claimed on X that the Election Commission published the advertisements in response to pressure from the Opposition and civil society. 'When faced with public opposition, the Bharatiya Janata Party cleverly takes a step back,' he claimed. भाजपा ने चुनाव आयोग के सहयोग से, बिहार में करोड़ों लोगों का वोटिंग का अधिकार छीनने का जो मास्टर प्लॉन बनाया था, उसमें अब भाजपा खुद फँसती नज़र आ रही है। पहले दिन से ही, कांग्रेस पार्टी Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls (SIR) के ख़िलाफ़ आवाज़ उठा रही है। जो लोग… — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 6, 2025 In a clarification on Sunday evening, the poll panel said that the revision of voter rolls was being carried out as per an order issued on June 24, and that there had been no change in instructions since then. 'The electors can submit their documents any time before July 25, 2025,' the Election Commission said. 'After publication of draft Electoral Rolls, if any document is deficient, [electoral registration officers] can obtain such documents, from the electors whose name appears in the draft Electoral Rolls, during scrutiny in the Claims and Objection period.' The Election Commission said that till 6 pm on Sunday, it had received the enumeration forms of 1,69,49,408 voters, or 21.46% of the voting population. It added that 7.25% of the forms had been uploaded on the commission's ECINET app. No one was satisfied with current voter rolls: EC chief Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday defended the ongoing special intensive revision of Bihar's electoral rolls, claiming that the exercise had to carried out as no one was satisfied with the current voter rolls, The Hindu reported. Kumar said that in the past four months, electoral registration officers, district election officers and all 36 chief electoral officers in the country held nearly 5,000 meetings with 28,000 political party representatives. 'The EC has also invited all recognised political parties for interaction,' he said, according to The Hindu. 'No one was satisfied with the current status of electoral rolls for one reason or the other.' Revision of electoral rolls The special intensive revision of the electoral rolls in Bihar was announced by the Election Commission on June 24, ahead of the Assembly elections expected to be held in the state in October or November. As part of the exercise, persons whose names were not on the 2003 voter list will need to submit proof of eligibility to vote. This means that 2.9 crore out of the state's 7.8 crore voters – or about 37% of the electors – will have to submit documentary evidence. The special intensive revision guidelines issued earlier stated that the voters born before July 1, 1987, must show proof of their date and place of birth, while those born between July 1, 1987, and December 2, 2004, must also submit documents establishing the date and place of birth of one of their parents. Those born after December 2, 2004, will need proof of date of birth for themselves and both parents. If the officers are satisfied with the details provided, the voters will be re-enrolled to a new voter list by electoral registration officers. If not, they will be removed from the voter lists. A draft roll will be published on August 1 and the final roll will be out on September 30. disenfranchising more than 2.5 crore voters, as they may not be able to produce the necessary documents.
News18
15 minutes ago
- News18
'Show Some Sensitivity': Congress Attacks Kangana Over 'No Cabinet' Remark In Flood-Hit Mandi
The Congress party slammed BJP MP Kangana Ranaut and said her comments on the flood situation in Himachal Pradesh were "insensitive". The Congress party on Sunday slammed BJP Lok Sabha MP from Mandi, Kangana Ranaut, after she paid a visit to her rain-ravaged constituency and said that she does not have any official Cabinet to provide disaster relief. Terming the remarks by the actor-politician 'insensitive", the Congress opined that Kangana should show sensitivity to the situation in Himachal Pradesh and those affected by floods and landslides. In an X post, the Congress shared a byte by Kangana and wrote, 'In Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, a cloudburst has caused massive destruction. People are distressed, their everything has been ruined." 'Mandi's MP Kangana arrived there after several days and, laughing, said- 'What can I do, I don't have a cabinet position'. Please show some sensitivity, Kangana ji," a rough translation of the party's post in Hindi suggested. हिमाचल प्रदेश के मंडी में बादल फटने से भारी तबाही हुई है. लोग परेशान हैं, उनका सब कुछ उजड़ गया है.मंडी की सांसद कंगना कई दिन बाद वहां पहुंचीं और हंसते हुए कहा- 'मैं क्या कर सकती हूं, मेरे पास कैबिनेट तो है नहीं' कुछ तो संवेदना दिखाइए कंगना जी — Congress (@INCIndia) July 6, 2025 WHAT KANGANA RANAUT SAID Addressing reporters over the situation in Mandi, Kangana said, 'I don't have any official cabinet when it comes to disaster relief or the disaster itself." 'I have my two brothers who are always with me. That's my cabinet. So, it's just these two," she added. 'The relief and restoration works have to be done by the state government, and as an MP, I can only apprise the Prime Minister and the Home Minister about the situation and seek liberal assistance," Ranaut told reporters. 'We are the link between the state and the central government, instrumental in getting projects from the centre to the state and raising issues and grievances of our constituencies with the centre," she said. 'How the state government is functioning, I can say that Congress will not come to power in the state for the next 20 years," she added. Earlier, in an X post, Kangana wrote, 'It is heartbreaking to see massive flood devastation in Himachal almost every year now. I tried reaching the flood-affected areas in Seraj and other areas in Mandi, but was advised by the respected Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur to wait until the connectivity to the affected areas is restored." Kangana took stock of the situation in Mandi on Sunday and asserted that the way relief work is being undertaken, the Congress will not return to power in the state in even 20 years. She also said that as an MP, she could only apprise the prime minister of the situation. 'I am deeply pained to see the plight of the people. They have lost family members, houses have been washed away, several people are still missing, but we can only console the families who have lost their kin, and now it is time to provide relief." RAIN WREAKS HAVOC IN HIMACHAL Fourteen people have died, and a search is on for 31 missing, as cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides caused massive destruction. More than 150 houses, 106 cattle sheds, 31 vehicles, 14 bridges, and several roads suffered damage in the disaster. A total of 164 cattle have perished. About 200 roads have been rendered out of bounds for traffic, while 236 transformers and 278 supply schemes have been disrupted in Mandi district as of Sunday morning, according to the state emergency operation centre.
