‘What Balasaheb Couldn’t Do, Devendra Fadnavis Did’: Raj Thackeray on Reuniting with Uddhav at Mumbai Rally

At a high-voltage rally in Mumbai’s Worli, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray shared the stage for the first time in two decades, uniting over the cause of “Marathi pride” and slamming the BJP over language policies.

Speaking in Marathi before a packed audience, Raj credited Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for achieving what no one — not even their late uncle and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray — could do: bring the estranged cousins back together.

“Uddhav and I are coming together after 20 years. What Balasaheb couldn’t do, what thousands of others couldn’t do, Fadnavis has done,” Raj said, referring to the BJP-led government’s controversial move to introduce Hindi as a third language in schools — a decision later rolled back amid backlash.

A Show of Unity Over Language and Identity

The cousins’ rift had its roots in a succession dispute during Bal Thackeray’s lifetime, when he chose Uddhav over Raj to lead the Shiv Sena. The fallout led Raj to launch his own outfit, the MNS, in 2006. Their reunion now comes against the backdrop of growing concerns about Hindi imposition in Maharashtra and renewed calls for safeguarding regional identity.

“Why is Hindi being forced on our children?” Raj asked, accusing the BJP of trying to erode the state’s cultural fabric. He claimed the language policy was a “test balloon” and warned that it could be a precursor to efforts to “separate Mumbai from Maharashtra.”

Uddhav echoed his cousin’s concerns. “When it comes to the question of language, Raj, I, and everyone else here stand united,” he said.

‘We Are Street Fighters’

The event also served as a public reassertion of the Thackerays’ combative brand of politics. “Yes, we are goons,” Uddhav declared unapologetically, “If being goons means fighting for justice, then we are proud to be that.”

Raj, too, emphasized the influence of street power over institutional clout. “Your power lies in the legislature. Our power lies on the streets,” he said, crediting people’s protests for the withdrawal of the Hindi language directive.

He also pointed to economic disparities between Hindi-speaking and non-Hindi-speaking states, questioning the premise of Hindi as a unifying or empowering force. “Why are people migrating out of Hindi-speaking states if Hindi was the answer to progress?” he asked.

A Symbolic Reconciliation

The rally, themed around regional pride and cultural preservation, may have political undertones ahead of upcoming elections, but party leaders framed the reunion as rooted in ideology, not strategy.

“This is a golden moment,” said Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey. “The two Thackerays — powerful names in Maharashtra’s politics — have come together, not for political gain but for the honour of the Marathi people.”