Overview

• Raj Thackeray, in a recent interview, described past disputes with Uddhav Thackeray as trivial and called for unity to protect Maharashtra and the Marathi identity.
• Uddhav Thackeray responded positively but emphasized that any alliance must exclude those working against Maharashtra’s interests, implicitly referencing BJP-backed actors.
• The discussions come ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, where both Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS face challenges to maintain political relevance.
• Both parties have seen significant electoral declines, with Shiv Sena (UBT) reduced to 20 Assembly seats in 2024 and MNS failing to win any seats.
• The potential alliance is framed against broader concerns over cultural and linguistic identity, including opposition to perceived Hindi imposition under the National Education Policy.