3 hours Ago
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde got irritated when asked about the buzz around a possible patch-up between estranged cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray. Shinde dismissed the question, urging the reporter to "talk about the government's work" instead. Shinde was visiting his native village in Satara.
The speculation gained momentum after Raj Thackeray, in a podcast with filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar, said he had no issues working with Uddhav during their time in the unified Shiv Sena, and questioned whether Uddhav was open to reuniting. Uddhav, in turn, hinted at a willingness to let go of "trivial fights," as long as Maharashtra's interests were not compromised. The cousins have had a long-standing rift since Raj's exit from Shiv Sena in 2006, which led to the formation of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
While both leaders now seem to be open to re-evaluating their relationship in the interest of the "Marathi manoos," underlying tensions remain, particularly after Uddhav's 2022 ouster, when Shinde led a factional split in Shiv Sena and formed a government with BJP support. Uddhav has warned against aiding "thieves," a veiled attack on Shinde and the BJP, signalling that any unity effort would come with conditions. Meanwhile, Raj's MNS has failed to regain significant political ground, drawing a blank in the 2024 Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed the possibility of a political reunion between the estranged cousins. "If the two come together, we will be happy about it. If people settle their differences, it’s a good thing.
What else can I say about it? I also appeal to all Marathi people to come together for the benefit of Maharashtra and Marathi," Fadnavis said. Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said it was entirely up to Raj Thackeray whether or not to align with Uddhav Thackeray..
