Overview

• Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, estranged cousins and leaders of Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS respectively, have expressed openness to setting aside past differences for the greater good of Marathi identity.
• The Shiv Sena (UBT) issued a public call for unity to protect Marathi pride, signaling a potential political realignment in Maharashtra.
• Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who split the Shiv Sena in 2022, has shown visible discomfort over the possibility of a Thackeray reconciliation that could threaten his political standing.
• The BJP, through state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule, has maintained a neutral stance on a potential UBT-MNS alliance, framing it as the prerogative of the two parties.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah is reported to have played a role in facilitating dialogue between the Thackeray cousins, highlighting the strategic importance of the upcoming Mumbai civic elections.