In a significant political reunion, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray declared that he and MNS chief Raj Thackeray have “come together to stay together” while addressing a massive crowd at the ‘Awaz Marathicha’ joint rally in Mumbai.
The event marked the first time in two decades that the Thackeray cousins shared a stage, rallying in opposition to the alleged imposition of Hindi over Marathi in the state. The Maharashtra government had recently withdrawn two controversial Government Resolutions (GRs) that proposed Hindi as a mandatory third language in schools.
Uddhav, striking a tone of solidarity, said the unity of the Thackeray brothers is more important than their speeches. He praised Raj Thackeray’s oratory and emphasized that their appearance together signaled a powerful message to the people of Maharashtra.
“We have come together to stay together,” Uddhav told the cheering crowd.
He also launched a strong critique against the Centre and Maharashtra government, accusing them of systematically undermining Maharashtra’s economic backbone by relocating key industries and offices to Gujarat.
“You forced Marathi people out of Mumbai. You shifted the diamond business and other major establishments to Gujarat. Now you ask what we did during our BMC tenure?” Uddhav said.
Raj Thackeray, in his address earlier, took a jibe at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, saying what Balasaheb Thackeray couldn’t do, Fadnavis inadvertently did — by uniting the two Thackeray leaders over the cause of Marathi pride.
The rally at Mumbai’s Worli Dome was symbolic as well as political. Both leaders jointly garlanded the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, underscoring their shared commitment to Marathi identity and culture.
This public show of unity has stirred the political landscape in Maharashtra ahead of the 2024 Assembly elections, as the two powerful regional leaders signal a renewed Marathi-centric alliance in response to perceived cultural and administrative marginalization.
