‘There is pressure...': Will Sena (UBT) tie up with MNS for BMC polls? Sanjay Raut responds
Uddhav Thackeray
's Shiv Sena (UBT) and
Raj Thackeray
's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) yet, but acknowledged growing public sentiment urging both parties to come together for the upcoming local body elections in Maharashtra, including the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.
"I have not said that Shiv Sena and MNS are contesting (local body) elections together. I said that there is pressure and demand from the public on Shiv Sena and MNS to contest local body elections together. People think that if the rights of 'Marathi Maanus' are to be protected, then Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray must come together.... Raj Thackeray has a different style of working," Raut said.
Raut also signalled that the Shiv Sena (UBT) does not plan to contest the upcoming civic elections as part of the INDIA bloc, but instead is open to aligning with the MNS, particularly after their recent show of unity against the imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra schools.
He cautioned Raj Thackeray against aligning with the BJP or Eknath Shinde, citing MNS's political setbacks in earlier such tie-ups.
The discussion around a possible alliance gained traction after a dramatic political moment earlier this week when Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray shared the stage and a hug at the 'Awaz Marathicha' rally at Mumbai's Worli Dome. The event, organised to protest against the Maharashtra government's move to introduce Hindi as a third language, marked the first public show of unity between the two cousins in nearly 20 years.
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At the rally, Uddhav Thackeray declared, "We have come together to stay together," and hinted at a broader political realignment by stating, "Together we will capture power in Mumbai civic body and Maharashtra." He also slammed the BJP-led Centre for allegedly shifting major institutions and businesses from Mumbai to Gujarat, saying, "You have made all attempts to break the backbone of Maharashtra and continue to do that, and you are asking questions to us.
"
Raj Thackeray echoed the sentiment, saying the state government's rollback of its language policy was due to the unity shown by the Marathi community. In a veiled dig at the BJP, he remarked, "What Balasaheb could not do, Devendra Fadnavis did it... The work of bringing both of us together."
Addressing concerns over imposition of Hindi, Raj Thackeray added, "How did they suddenly bring in the imposition of Hindi without any discussion? For what purpose, and for whom? This is an injustice to young children... You may rule the assembly - but we rule the streets."
The rally also saw the brothers jointly garlanding a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a symbolic act marking reconciliation after Raj Thackeray split from the Shiv Sena in 2005 to form the MNS following a succession dispute.
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