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Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Reunification saga: Raj, Uddhav will wait till civic poll bugle is sounded
MUMBAI: Amid speculations over a tie-up between Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which intensified when the Thackeray cousins participated in a joint rally on July 5, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Monday underlined that the rally 'was limited for the issue of Marathi language and was not political'. Mumbai, India, July 05, 2025: Raj Thackeray, Chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), and Uddhav Thackeray, Chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), reunited after 20 years at a public rally at NSCI Dome, Worli in Mumbai. The event, titled "Awaj Marathicha" (Voice of the Marathi), was jointly organised by Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS to mark the withdrawal of government resolutions (GRs) related to the three-language policy in primary schools. Mumbai, India. 05, 2025. (Photo by Raju Shinde/HT Photo) (Raju Shinde) Raj added that any 'decision of forging a political alliance would be taken when the civic elections are announced'. This was concurred by his cousin, Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. The Thackerays called attention to a possible reunification when they held the rally in Worli to celebrate the government withdrawing its decision to make the study of Marathi as third language in primary schools mandatory if students do not opt for any other language. The rally also led to excitement among the rank and file of both the parties as soon as Uddhav announced that they had 'come together to stay together in future'. Following the event, while Sena (UBT) leaders have been candid about the tie-up, Raj instructed his leaders to exercise restraint, leading to speculations of his indecisiveness for the polls. Speaking to journalists informally taking a break from a workshop with his leaders on Monday, Raj said: 'Let elections be declared; we will then take a call (on the alliance) depending on the existing political situation.' In a similar vein, Uddhav Thackeray also said his party would adopt a wait-and-watch stance. 'The MNS chief has directed party leaders not to speak about the alliance. Let polls be announced, only then a decision will be taken,' Uddhav told the media, outside the Vidhan Bhavan, on Monday. Uddhav's stand on Monday was contrary to that of the party the previous day, as expressed in Saamana. In an editorial, Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut had called the reconciliation 'a need of the hour' to protect Maharashtra's interests. 'The very idea of Uddhav and Raj joining hands has rattled the ruling parties,' wrote Raut in his latest column in the party mouthpiece. 'Leaders in Delhi and Maharashtra are trembling. They know their politics will collapse like a house of cards if the brothers unite — especially Eknath Shinde.' INDIA bloc must meet before polls, says Uddhav Saurabha Kulshreshtha MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said leaders of the INDIA bloc must meet ahead of the Bihar elections and local body polls across Maharashtra, scheduled for later this year. The bloc, an alliance of around three dozen parties, was formed to take on the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in the run-up to the parliamentary elections last year. However, Thackeray pointed out, leaders of the INDIA bloc had not met even once since the Lok Sabha elections. 'Now Bihar elections and local body polls across Maharashtra are coming up, so INDIA bloc leaders should meet soon,' said Thackeray. He also said a decision on an alliance for local body elections would be taken only after the polls were formally announced. While addressing the media in the state legislature premises, Thackeray also commented on developments in the Supreme Court case relating to the party's name and symbol. He welcomed the apex court's decision to hold its next hearing in August. 'It's good that the Supreme Court has decided to hold a hearing on the Shiv Sena party name and symbol case against the Election Commission of India (ECI). It would be great if it could also deliver its verdict in August. For us (Sena-UBT), the Supreme Court is the last ray of hope, which will decide on the theft of our party name and symbol,' said Thackeray. 'The ECI changed the name of our party and gave our name to thieves,' he said, referring to the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, who split the undivided party in 2022. 'It is not acceptable that the ECI can take a decision on such matters. ECI has the right to decide on party symbols but it cannot give a party's name to anyone of its choosing, and change the name of a party,' said Thackeray.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Hit below their eardrums': In Mumbai, Thackeray cousins go no-filter
NEW DELHI: After more than 20 years of political estrangement, cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray came together on Saturday at a joint rally in Mumbai. The event, titled Awaj Marathicha (Voice of the Marathi) marked the first time since 2005 that the two leaders shared the same political platform. Organised to celebrate the rollback of two state government resolutions introducing Hindi from Class 1 in schools, the rally also signalled a potential new political alliance. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai 'We've come together to stay together,' Uddhav Thackeray declared at the gathering. 'Yes, we are gunda' He then turned his attention to the BJP, accusing it of political opportunism. "You (BJP) have used us enough already. If you didn't have the support of Balasaheb Thackeray, who knew you in Maharashtra? Who are you to teach us about Hindutva? When riots were happening in Mumbai, then we Marathi people had saved every Hindu in Maharashtra, be it anyone. If you are calling Marathi people 'gundas' doing their protest, seeking justice. Then yes, we are gunda." Calling for lasting unity among regional parties and leaders, he said, "Our strength is in our unity, whenever some challenging time comes, we all come together, but we all have experienced that when the challenging time passes, we all go for our personal interests, which should not happen this time..." Uddhav also accused the BJP of damaging Maharashtra's industrial and economic base, "They always ask us what we did for Marathi people in Mumbai during our rule in BMC. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Providers are furious: Internet access without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo Now we are asking the question: in the last 11 years of your rule, what have you done? You have pushed away Mumbai's important establishment to Gujarat. Businesses are being transferred to Gujarat. Big offices are going to Gujarat. The diamond business has already shifted to Gujarat, so you have made all attempts to break the backbone of Maharashtra and continue to do that, and you are asking questions to us. " 'You must hit below their eardrums' Raj Thackeray on the other hand addressed both the language issue and the criticism directed at his party. "Be it Gujarati or anyone else here, must know Marathi, but there is no need to beat people for that if they don't speak Marathi. But if someone shows useless drama, you must hit below their eardrums. I tell you one more thing: if you beat someone, don't make a video of the incident. Let the person beaten up tell that he has been beaten up, you don't need to tell everyone that you have beaten someone." He also pushed back at those who questioned the MNS's commitment to Marathi simply because their children studied in English-medium schools. "They say that our children have learnt in English medium schools. So what? Dada Bhuse studied in Marathi schools and became a minister. Devendra Fadnavis studied in an English-medium school and became the Maharashtra CM. So what? I would tell you that I studied in a Marathi school, but my father, Shrikant Thackeray, and uncle, Balasaheb Thackeray, studied in an English medium school. Can anyone raise a question about their love for Marathi? Tomorrow, I will learn Hebrew also. Will anyone raise a question about my pride in Marathi?" He concluded his speech by framing the Hindi language policy as a broader test of regional resilience. "I don't have anything against Hindi, no language is bad. It takes a lot of effort to build a language. We Marathi people ruled over a lot of states during the Maratha Empire, but we never enforced Marathi on those parts. They started with the experiment of imposing Hindi over us and were trying to test if we would not have opposed it, they would have gone upto making Mumbai separate from Maharashtra."
India.com
05-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray share stage after almost 20 years, vow to save 'Marathi linguistic identity' at all costs
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray share stage after almost 20 years, vow to save 'Marathi linguistic identity' at all costs | Key highlights 'We have now come together to stay together,' roared Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray as he shared the stage with his cousin Raj Thackeray after almost 20 years. The event, titled 'Awaj Marathicha' (Voice of the Marathi), has been jointly organised by Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). The rally came after the ruling Mahayuti coalition recently decided to rollback a controversial policy mandating Hindi as a third language in Maharashtra's primary schools.
News18
05-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Supriya Sule The Special Guest At Uddhav, Raj Thackeray's Reunion Rally In Mumbai
Last Updated: Though her party was not officially part of the rally, the NCP (SCP) is an alliance partner of the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena It was a star-studded Saturday in Mumbai as estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray shared the stage after two decades, marking a paradigm shift in Maharashtra's politics. The event titled 'Awaj Marathicha' (Voice of the Marathi) was the first time since 2005 that the cousins—embroiled in a bitter legacy battle—came together in a show of unity against the three-language formula. The political gathering, however, also made news for a special guest—Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Supriya Sule. Though her party was not officially part of the rally, the NCP (SCP) is an alliance partner of the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena.
NDTV
05-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Raj, Uddhav Thackeray Share Stage For First Time In 20 Years For "Victory Rally"
Mumbai: After a political separation that spanned two decades, cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray united today at a public rally in Mumbai. The event, titled 'Awaj Marathicha' (Voice of the Marathi), has been jointly organised by Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), marking the first time since 2005 that the two estranged leaders will share a stage. The ruling Mahayuti coalition's recent rollback of a controversial policy mandating Hindi as a third language in Maharashtra's primary schools has served as the trigger for this show of unity by the Thackeray cousins. Both Uddhav and Raj had strongly opposed the proposal, and the rally is being positioned as a "victory" for Marathi linguistic identity. "What Bal Thackeray could not do, what many others could not do, Devendra Fadnavis did - bring us together," said Raj Thackeray on stage. "You may have power in the Vidhan Bhawan, we have power on the roads." "Where did you get this three-language formula from? This came only from the central government. Today, in the High Court and the Supreme Court, everything is in English. It is not there in any other state. Why only in Maharashtra? When Maharashtra awakens, you see what happens," he said. The last time Raj and Uddhav appeared together in public was during the Malvan Assembly by-election campaign in 2005. At that time, the Shiv Sena was still a united entity under the towering presence of Bal Thackeray. The bypoll was necessitated by the resignation of Narayan Rane, a senior Shiv Sena leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister, who had quit the party following internal disagreements. Shortly after that campaign, Raj Thackeray left Shiv Sena. In November 2005, in an emotionally charged press conference at Shivaji Park, Raj announced his resignation from the party his uncle had founded. "All I had asked for was respect. All I got was insult and humiliation," he said, stopping short of directly naming his cousin Uddhav.
