BMC Polls : Uddhav, Cousin Raj Thackeray Reunite After 20 Years
Mumbai : Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Wednesday formally announced an alliance between their parties ahead of the January 15 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The announcement was made at a joint press conference addressed by both leaders. Uddhav Thackeray said the two parties had come together with the intent to remain united.
While Raj Thackeray did not disclose details of seat sharing for the high-stakes Mumbai civic polls, he asserted that the next mayor of Mumbai would be Marathi and from their alliance. Uddhav Thackeray said seat-sharing arrangements have already been finalised for the Nashik Municipal Corporation, where elections are scheduled on January 15, along with Mumbai and 27 other municipal corporations across Maharashtra.
Taking a swipe at the ruling BJP, Uddhav said leaders who are unhappy with developments within the party were also welcome to join their front. Uddhav Thackeray’s son Aaditya Thackeray says, It’s a very big day for Mumbai and Maharashtra and for all those who are fighting for the land of Maharashtra. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday dismissed the Shiv Sena (UBT)–Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) alliance announced ahead of the Mumbai civic polls, calling it an exaggerated and inconsequential tie-up.
Fadnavis said the alliance was being projected as a dramatic political event, comparing the hype to “Russia and Ukraine coming together” and leaders Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin holding talks. He asserted that both parties had lost their political identity and public trust. Fadnavis alleged that the two parties had eroded their vote base due to what he described as politics of appeasement.
