In a powerful show of unity at Shivaji Park—the historic birthplace of the Shiv Sena—Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray addressed their first joint rally ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The cousins accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of pursuing a long-term strategy to detach Mumbai from Maharashtra and weaken the Marathi community within the city.
The leaders presented their alliance as a necessary front to protect Mumbai and Maharashtra from what they described as existential threats. They highlighted how martyrs of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement had fought to keep Mumbai within the state, preventing its transfer to Gujarat. Raj Thackeray claimed the BJP’s plan involves developing the Vadhavan port, gaining control over Palghar, and ultimately linking Mumbai to Gujarat. He further alleged that the BJP seeks dominance over municipal bodies to facilitate land deals benefiting the Adani group, pointing to a significant rise in projects awarded to the conglomerate—from cement and ports to airports, power, real estate, and data centres—since 2014.
Uddhav Thackeray contrasted the financial management under previous Shiv Sena-led BMC administrations, which he said generated modest deposits, with the current situation under BJP influence, which he alleged has produced irregularities amounting to Rs 3 lakh crore. He also claimed that a large proportion of civic projects in Mumbai rely on cement supplied by the Adani group.
The rally sharply criticized the widespread unopposed victories in recent municipal elections, with as many as 66 seats going uncontested in favour of Mahayuti candidates. Raj Thackeray described this as a denial of voters’ democratic rights, warning that Marathi residents face a pivotal moment. “This is the last election for Marathi people,” he declared, urging them not to miss the chance to safeguard their future in the city, lest they be sidelined.
Uddhav Thackeray challenged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to run an election campaign free of communal rhetoric, offering a symbolic reward of Rs 1 lakh if successful. He also questioned the BJP’s alliances with parties such as the AIMIM in Akot and Congress in other areas, contrasting the party’s criticism of similar partnerships by opponents.
The Thackeray cousins emphasized that their collaboration transcends past differences, driven solely by the imperative to preserve Mumbai’s Marathi character and Maharashtra’s integrity amid the upcoming civic polls.
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