By :- Shubhendra Rajawat
Mumbai: In a historic turn of events, Maharashtra witnessed the long-awaited reunion of estranged cousins and political leaders Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray. After two decades of political rivalry and separation, the duo shared a public stage for the first time in 20 years at the joint “Awaaz Marathicha” rally held at the NSCI Dome in Mumbai’s Worli area on Saturday.
The rally, organized to celebrate the Maharashtra government’s decision to revoke two government resolutions that introduced Hindi as the third language in schools, marked a rare show of unity between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). The event saw participation from prominent political figures including NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule and NCP-SCP leader Jitendra Awhad.
Both Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray addressed a large gathering and emphasized the importance of protecting the Marathi language and identity. “We have come together to stay together,” said Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray during his speech, underlining the emotional and cultural significance of the moment.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray, known for his strong views on regional identity, reiterated that Marathi must be respected and learned by everyone living in Maharashtra. “Be it a Gujarati or anyone else, they must learn Marathi. But violence is not the answer. If someone disrespects our language and makes a mockery of it, action should be taken — but not for show. Don’t make videos of such acts. Let the person know they were wrong; there’s no need to publicize it,” he said, drawing both support and criticism for his remarks.
Raj also acknowledged the political significance of the reunion. “In one of my interviews, I said my Maharashtra is bigger than any political differences. Today, after 20 years, Uddhav and I are standing together. What Balasaheb Thackeray couldn’t do, Devendra Fadnavis made happen — he brought us together,” he said, hinting at the unexpected political undercurrents behind the reconciliation.
The rally also saw the presence of the next generation of both parties — Aaditya Thackeray (Shiv Sena UBT) and Amit Thackeray (MNS) — sharing the stage, symbolizing a potential new era of cooperation in Maharashtra politics.
The joint rally was held in response to the Maharashtra government’s controversial push to introduce Hindi as a mandatory third language in schools, a move that faced backlash across the state. With the government’s reversal of the decision, the rally turned into a celebration of Marathi pride and linguistic identity.
This significant political event could reshape the landscape of Maharashtra politics, especially ahead of upcoming elections. Whether this unity will lead to a formal alliance remains to be seen, but for now, the image of the two Thackerays embracing each other has already become an iconic moment in the state’s political history.