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Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Why Uddhav, Raj are looking to bury the hatchet, sharpening Marathi manoos pitch
Days after the Mahayuti-led Maharashtra government rolled back two Government Resolutions (GRs) on the introduction of Hindi in primary schools, estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray came together for the first time in 20 years to hold a joint 'victory' rally centred on Marathi identity Saturday. As Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj took the stage at the rally in Mumbai, the screen behind them displayed two words – Awaaz Marathicha or voice of Marathi. With the Thackeray cousins pledging unity in the fight for the rights of the 'Marathi manoos (sons of the soil)', they returned to an emotive pitch raised by the late Bal Thackeray when he founded the Shiv Sena in 1966. Though the rally was meant to celebrate their protests that forced the BJP-led Mahayuti government to backtrack on its three-language policy and alleged 'Hindi imposition', it signalled a significant thaw in the relationship between Uddhav and Raj. Though there have been signs of their rapprochement several times over the past two decades, their reunion has been written off in political circles. On Saturday, however, they seemed to make their first major move towards burying their differences. Addressing each other as 'sanmanniya (honourable)' in their respective speeches, Uddhav and Raj dismissed apprehensions over their unity. Attacking Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Raj remarked, 'Fadnavis did what even Balasaheb Thackeray (Shiv Sena founder) could not — he reunited us.' Uddhav also hinted at their alliance, saying, 'We have come together now after many years to remain together.' With the local body elections, including the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, round the corner, it remains to be seen how Uddhav and Raj would work out an alliance. While a merger of the Sena (UBT) and the MNS seems unlikely, they may have a tie-up through seat-sharing and joint campaign, which would allow both parties to retain their respective leaderships. Rift to possible reunion In the 1990s, it was Bal Thackeray, Uddhav's father, who had groomed his nephew Raj. There was then a widely-held perception that Raj would be the political heir to the Sena founder. Raj followed in his uncle's footsteps, becoming a cartoonist before joining politics. His oratory also echoed his uncle's speeches, as it was marked with a direct approach mixed with anecdotes, mimicry and humour. In contrast, Uddhav remained in the background, focusing instead on the organisational work. In 2003, when the Sena chose Uddhav as the party working president, it came as a shock to many including Raj. Though he initially backed Uddhav's elevation, the two were unable to work together. In 2005, Raj quit the Sena, and went on to launch the MNS in 2006. Though the MNS got off to a promising start, its graph steadily declined. But, Raj still continued to make his presence felt on the state's political scene as a fiery leader. With Eknath Shinde's revolt in June 2022 – which led to the split in the Shiv Sena – dealing a body blow to Uddhav, who lost the party symbol and name to the Shinde-led breakaway faction, the Sena (UBT) now faces the task of rebuilding the party organisation in what is now a crowded political field in Maharashtra. In such a scenario, with the Sena(UBT) and the MNS at record lows electorally, the tried-and-tested Marathi manoos plank could be key to their revival. Beyond the political appeal of the Thackeray brand, however, both the Sena (UBT) and the MNS will have to reach out to diverse segments to retain their hold in Maharashtra. While Saturday's rally, and Uddhav's call to 'rise above caste and politics', give them a start, it remains to be seen how their moves play out. Poll numbers Data shows the combined strength of the Sena (UBT) and MNS has had the potential to corner a significant chunk of the vote share in the elections to the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, though this combined strength may not hold in the coming polls. In its debut Assembly elections in 2009, the MNS won 13 seats and a 5.71% vote share. The then undivided Shiv Sena, allied with the BJP at the time, won 44 seats and 16.26% of the vote share. Five years later, in the 2014 Assembly polls that saw all major parties contest separately, the Sena won 63 seats and a 19.35% vote share, but the MNS was reduced to just one seat and a 3.15% vote share. In the 2019 Assembly polls, when the Sena and BJP had allied again, the Shiv Sena won 56 seats and 16.41% of the vote share, while the MNS won just one seat and fell to a 2.25% vote share. By the 2024 Assembly polls, the Shiv Sena had split into two factions. Uddhav's Sena (UBT) won 20 seats with a 9.96% vote share, while the MNS failed to win any seats and managed just 1.55% of the vote share. How their possible alliance would work across Maharashtra, which has a Marathi speaking population of 70%, remains to be seen depending on how the political landscape would change in the run-up to the 2029 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Over the years, the MNS has often played the role of vote-divider, with even the undivided Sena fighting to keep its Marathi vote bank intact. If the Sena (UBT) and MNS were to join hands, they could corner a sizeable section of Marathi voters, who account for 30% to 35% of Mumbai's population, at least in the BMC polls. The results of past elections to the BMC, India's richest municipal corporation, show that the MNS peaked in 2012 when it won 28 seats in the 227-member body, before dropping to just seven seats in 2017. The Shiv Sena, however, has retained its dominance in the BMC over the last three decades. Between the 2012 and 2017 polls, the undivided Sena went from 75 to 84 seats but faced a fierce fight against the BJP in 2017, which rose to 82 seats from 31 in 2012. Challenges from BJP After the 2019 Assembly polls, when Uddhav quit the NDA to form the MVA government with the Congress and undivided NCP, the BJP leadership at the Centre and in the state had pledged to win the next BMC polls 'at any cost'. With just short of a majority in the Maharashtra Assembly and Fadnavis's infrastructure and development pitch, the BJP poses a significant challenge to Uddhav in the BMC polls. Though there have been multiple attempts – both by the BJP and the Shinde Sena – over the past few months to make the MNS contest independently, Uddhav and Raj coming together could give the BJP a tough fight in the local body polls, especially in the BMC. The dispute over 'Hindi imposition' has given the Thackerays a potential issue to target the BJP, which is often seen as a North Indian party – a charge dismissed by Fadnavis who cites his party's 132-seat tally won in the 2024 Assembly polls. 'They (Uddhav and Raj) believe they are the custodians of Marathi manoos. They should not live in this myth. I am also Marathi. We also got elected with the support of Marathi manoos,' Fadnavis said. Some BJP insiders argued that a Uddhav-Raj alliance is merely intended for the BMC polls. 'In the absence of a concrete agenda, an emotive plank is not going to work. Such politics of fits and starts has a short shelf life,' they said.
India Gazette
24-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Maharashtra: Manickam Tagore slams
New Delhi [India], June 24 (ANI): Congress leader Manickam Tagore on Tuesday slammed the Mahayuti-led Maharashtra government for lack of infrastructural facilities in rural areas, questioning whether 'RSS product' Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will take responsibility for it after a woman had to be carried with a makeshift palanquin while giving birth. The Congress leader had highlighted various instances where people had to carry pregnant women in makeshift palanquins due to proper roads not being available in the rural areas in Thane district. 'In Shahapur, Thane, a pregnant woman had to be carried in a doli -- a makeshift palanquin -- because there is no road to her village. In 2025, India talks about Chandrayaan, 5G and Viksit Bharat. But here, we fail to provide even a basic approach road for an ambulance,' Tagore wrote in a post on X. 'Will RSS product Devendra will take responsibility for this shameful state of infrastructure? Why are rural women still risking their lives for basic healthcare? India deserves better. Villages deserve dignity,' Tagore added. Highlighting another incident of a woman who had to be carried and suffered a seizure, the Congress leader called it 'criminal state neglect' to let such things happen '21-year-old Sangita Mukane was in labour. No road meant no ambulance. Villagers walked over 1 km carrying her in a bamboo palanquin. She suffered a seizure before reaching the hospital. This is not tragedy. This is criminal state neglect. Local activist Prakash Khodka says: 'We are in 2025, but this is the condition of areas close to urban centres.' Despite repeated pleas, the panchayat has not built the road. Governance doesn't mean slogans. It means action on the ground,' his post added. According to the news report shared by Tagore, a video of a 21-year-old Ravindra Mukane being carried in a doli over a distance of more than one kilometre from Chanfewadi village to an ambulance parked at Gaidang Road went viral on social media. According to the report, a local activist Prakash Khodka had said that there have been repeated appeals made to the authorities, but the Nadgaon gram panchayat has not done anything to construct roads. (ANI)
Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Sule demands job assurance to Pahalgam attack victim's kin be implemented immediately
Criticising the Mahayuti-led state government for 'merely giving an assurance' to the kin of a Pahalgam terror attack victim, NCP(SP) working president Supriya Sule on Friday urged the government to implement the assurance of job to Aswari Jagdale in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), daughter of victim Santosh Jagdale. 'We had demanded a job to Asawari citing that the sole earning member of the family Santosh Jagdale was killed. The chief minister had assured us of the job but has not implemented it till now,' said Sule. The NCP(SP) leader said, 'Asawari is highly qualified and will be given a government job in PMC. The state government should implement its assurance.' Sule, who held a discussion with PMC officers on civic issues, highlighted the fatal road accidents taking place on city roads including the one at Gangadham chowk. 'The PMC needs to act fast in resolving civic issues that are costing lives of citizens. The water pollution in Khadakwasla dam is another serious issue which the civic body will resolve fast,' she said, adding the road conditions in the city and water logging is causing inconvenience to citizens. The NCP (SP) working president said the delimitation process for PMC elections have started as per state government decision. 'We want it to be a transparent process which is based on a standard formula and not as per the imagination of any person,' she said. Sule said that the state government is planning to recover the property tax from residents of newly merged 32 villages despite assurance of no recovery ahead of Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. 'They seem to be least bothered about promises after the elections. The PMC has not yet provided any services in these areas, so why should they recover property tax?,' she added. The NCP(SP) leader said she was shocked by the closure of Sarasbaug by PMC on the alleged demand of a BJP MP to avoid the muslim community from celebrating Eid in the garden. 'I wasn't aware of this. It is shocking. If I was told earlier I would have got it opened. I will ensure it is not repeated next year,' she said. On the ongoing indefinite hunger strike by former legislator Bachu Kadu, Sule said that the NCP(SP) has extended support to Kadu as he is justified in seeking justice for farmers who are in distress. 'The Mahayuti has assured complete loan waiver to farmers but has not taken any decision so far. The farmers are suffering with their hard work going in vain due to heavy rain across the state,' she said, adding that the legislator has been asked to take care of his health.
NDTV
10-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Raj Thackeray's "Focus" Jibe At State Government Over Mumbai Train Accident
Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief, Raj Thackeray condoled the loss of life in the Mumbra train accident in Thane, in which atleast 4 people have died, and criticised the Mahayuti-led state government of only focusing on elections instead of real issues of the people. "The train accident that happened in Mumbai today is unfortunate. Many passengers died in this accident, but similar incidents are happening in Mumbai every day. Passengers are getting injured in Mumbai every day and yet no one is doing anything to help," the MNS chief said during a press conference on Monday. "Our entire focus is only on the elections and campaigning. Will Raj Thackeray-Uddhav Thackeray form an alliance? More important than this question are how travel is going in Mumbai today, how people are living in the cities and in the state as a whole," he added. He further slammed the current and previous state governments for not pushing for Mumbai local trains to have a separate governing corporation for it. "The demand for a separate corporation for Mumbai Railways has been going on for many years. We had also made this demand, but till date no government has paid any attention to this demand. Today, the planning of cities has completely collapsed. Huge crowds are coming. Big roads, bridges, metros are being built for them. Tall buildings are being allowed, but there is no planning for parking," he said. Criticising poor city planning, he added, "Every city has a serious traffic problem. Building new roads and metros is not making any difference, yet no government is thinking about city planning or the influx of people from outside." Saying that he is shocked with the crowd at railway stations, he questioned the political leaders, including MPs, MLAs and ministers who go abroad, and whether they learn from their trips regarding public transport. "I myself have travelled by train in Mumbai for a long time. But the situation was a little better then. Now, seeing the crowd at the railway station, I am shocked. These MPs, MLAs, ministers go abroad - do they learn anything from there? If such an incident had happened abroad, how would it have been handled there? We have none. Here, human life has no value," he said. Earlier on Monday , Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray took a jibe at Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, accusing them of being responsible for the deaths. "Rail mantri has become a reel mantri. There have been multiple terrible train accidents in the last 2-3 years but no one is coming forward to claim any responsibility. This is solely the responsibility of the railway department and the railway minister... People of India have demanded his resignation multiple times but he carries on." Multiple passengers travelling towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) fell from a excessive crowded train at Mumbra railway station in Thane district on Monday. The accident occurred on the Down/Fast Line and disrupted local train services, with the reason suspected to be due to excessive crowd on the train. The two estranged cousins, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray have been in talks for a potential alliance ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are to be announced by the Election Commission.
India Gazette
10-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Maharashtra: MNS chief hits out at State Govt over deaths in Mumbai train accident
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India, June 10 (ANI): Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief, Raj Thackeray condoled the loss of life in the Mumbra train accident in Thane, in which atleast 4 people have died, and criticised the Mahayuti-led state government of only focusing on elections instead of real issues of the people. 'The train accident that happened in Mumbai today is unfortunate. Many passengers died in this accident, but similar incidents are happening in Mumbai every day. Passengers are getting injured in Mumbai every day and yet no one is doing anything to help,' the MNS chief said during a press conference on Monday. 'Our entire focus is only on the elections and campaigning. Will Raj Thackeray-Uddhav Thackeray form an alliance? More important than this question are how travel is going in Mumbai today, how people are living in the cities and in the state as a whole,' he added. He further slammed the current and previous state governments for not pushing for Mumbai local trains to have a separate governing corporation for it. 'The demand for a separate corporation for Mumbai Railways has been going on for many years. We had also made this demand, but till date no government has paid any attention to this demand. Today, the planning of cities has completely collapsed. Huge crowds are coming. Big roads, bridges, metros are being built for them. Tall buildings are being allowed, but there is no planning for parking,' he said. Criticising poor city planning, he added, 'Every city has a serious traffic problem. Building new roads and metros is not making any difference, yet no government is thinking about city planning or the influx of people from outside.' Saying that he is shocked with the crowd at railway stations, he questioned the political leaders, including MPs, MLAs and ministers who go abroad, and whether they learn from their trips regarding public transport. 'I myself have travelled by train in Mumbai for a long time. But the situation was a little better then. Now, seeing the crowd at the railway station, I am shocked. These MPs, MLAs, ministers go abroad - do they learn anything from there? If such an incident had happened abroad, how would it have been handled there? We have none. Here, human life has no value,' he said. Earlier on Monday , Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray took a jibe at Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, accusing them of being responsible for the deaths. 'Rail mantri has become a reel mantri. There have been multiple terrible train accidents in the last 2-3 years but no one is coming forward to claim any responsibility. This is solely the responsibility of the railway department and the railway minister... People of India have demanded his resignation multiple times but he carries on.' Multiple passengers travelling towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) fell from a excessive crowded train at Mumbra railway station in Thane district on Monday. The accident occurred on the Down/Fast Line and disrupted local train services, with the reason suspected to be due to excessive crowd on the train. The two estranged cousins, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray have been in talks for a potential alliance ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are to be announced by the Election Commission. (ANI)
