Thackeray Reunion? Sanjay Raut Downplays Alliance Rumors as “Merely Emotional Exchange”
Raut leaves door open for potential political partnership between cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, stating final decision rests with the two leaders
Uddhav Sena MP Sanjay Raut dismissed speculation about a formal alliance between estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray on Sunday, characterizing recent interactions as simply emotional conversations.
“There is no alliance, only emotional talks are going on,” Raut stated firmly during a press conference.
Despite this clarification, Raut didn’t entirely rule out future political collaboration between the two leaders, suggesting that any decision about forming an alliance would ultimately be determined by the cousins themselves.
“Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray are brothers. We have been together for years. Our relationship has not broken… Both brothers will decide,” Raut explained. He added, “We have accepted what Uddhav Ji said: for Maharashtra, if we need to come together, we will.”
The speculation arose after Raj Thackeray expressed willingness to resolve their nearly two-decade-old feud during a conversation with filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar on Saturday. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief emphasized, “For me, the interest of Maharashtra is bigger while everything else is secondary. I can keep aside our minor disputes.”
He further questioned, “I am ready to work with Uddhav (Thackeray) but the only question is whether he too is ready to work with me.”
In response, Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) chief Uddhav Thackeray reciprocated the sentiment, indicating his readiness to set aside differences and collaborate for the benefit of Maharashtra and the Marathi language. However, he implicitly urged his cousin to distance himself from “anti-Maharashtra” forces—an apparent reference to the BJP.
Reinforcing Uddhav Thackeray’s position, Raut told reporters today: “Uddhav Ji said that there are a few parties who claim to be well-wishers of Maharashtra, but they are the enemies of Maharashtra. They broke Bala Saheb’s Shiv Sena to attack the pride of Maharashtra, and with such parties, we shouldn’t have any relations, and then only we can be true Maharashtrians, and this is not a condition but the feelings of the people of Maharashtra.”
This potential reconciliation comes amid controversy over the Devendra Fadnavis-led government’s announcement to make Hindi a mandatory third language for classes 1 to 5 as part of the National Education Policy (NEP), a move that has sparked criticism regarding Hindi imposition.