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

Addressing a joint gathering, Uddhav Thackeray said that the unity of Marathi people was crucial to safeguard Mumbai. He recalled the sacrifices made during the United Maharashtra movement and linked them to the present political moment.

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.

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.