At a high-voltage rally in Mumbai on Saturday, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray shared a public stage for the first time in nearly two decades. The powerful political reunion was triggered by the widespread backlash over the Maharashtra government's controversial decision to make Hindi a compulsory third language in primary schools.
Addressing a packed crowd of MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) supporters, Raj Thackeray took direct aim at Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, sarcastically crediting him for achieving what even their uncle and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray couldn’t. “Chief Minister Fadnavis managed to bring me and Uddhav together,” he said, drawing cheers from the audience.
Raj also issued a strong warning, saying, “You may have power in the Vidhan Bhawan, we have power on the roads. Try to touch Maharashtra and see what happens.” He called the now-reversed three-language policy a veiled attempt to begin separating Mumbai from Maharashtra and applauded the public for uniting in protest, leading to the rollback.
The April 16 government directive had made Hindi compulsory for Classes 1 to 5 in English and Marathi medium schools. Following sharp criticism, the Fadnavis government reversed the decision on June 17, making Hindi optional. Raj Thackeray termed the decision a victory for Marathi pride and a reminder of the people's strength when united.
Uddhav Thackeray, speaking after Raj, expressed solidarity with his cousin, stating that this reunion is just the beginning and they plan to continue working together. “We have removed the distance between us,” he said. Though Uddhav kept his speech brief, he reiterated his stance against the forced imposition of Hindi and emphasized that the Marathi identity would be safeguarded. This reunion marks a significant shift in Maharashtra’s political landscape, especially ahead of key elections. The powerful visuals and strong language used in the rally have already sparked debates across party lines, signaling the return of a potent Thackeray alliance.
