‘To save Mumbai’, Uddhav and cousin Raj Thackeray officially announce alliance after 20 years for crucial BMC polls, say a ‘Marathi leader will be…’

After years of political distance, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Wednesday officially announced an alliance ahead of the January 15 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The announcement was made at an event in Mumbai and follows their public reunion in July, when the two cousins shared a stage for the first time in nearly 20 years. Their coming together has been closely watched, given the high stakes of the Mumbai civic polls.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey called the moment historic, saying the two Thackeray brothers had united on one platform “to save Mumbai.”

Although Raj Thackeray did not reveal details of seat sharing for the BMC elections, he made it clear that the next mayor of Mumbai would be a Marathi leader from their alliance. “The mayor of Mumbai will be a Marathi,” he said.

“During the separation of Maharashtra and Mumbai, 106 Marathi people sacrificed their lives. In the United Maharashtra movement, our grandfather, father and relatives also participated. Shiv Sena was born for the rights and welfare of the Marathi manoos in Mumbai. Some people want to take over Mumbai; we Thackerays are here to oppose it. We have come together to remain together. If anyone attacks Mumbai, then we will not tolerate it and will fight for it,” Uddhav Thackeray said.

Uddhav Thackeray said seat-sharing talks have already been completed for the Nashik Municipal Corporation, where elections will be held on January 15, the same day as the BMC polls and elections to 27 other municipal corporations across Maharashtra.

Speaking at the event, Uddhav Thackeray also asserted that Maharashtra’s leadership belongs to the Thackeray family. “Only a Thackeray can lead Maharashtra,” he said, adding that discussions are underway to extend the alliance to other civic bodies in the state.