Uddhav Thackeray Reunites with Cousin Raj to Counter BJP

Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, cousins and former rivals, have reunited after two decades, sharing a stage at a rally in Mumbai's National Sports Complex of India, in a move seen as a tactical effort to counter the BJP's Hindutva agenda in the state.

The reunion, attended by senior leaders and marked by a celebratory atmosphere, is viewed as a return to the roots of the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which were founded on the principle of safeguarding Marathi speakers' interests. The event comes at a time when the BJP has become the dominant party in the state, and the Thackerays have struggled to find their footing in the new political landscape.

The decision to reunite was prompted by the Maharashtra government's move to impose the National Education Policy's three-language formula, making Hindi a mandatory language for classes 1 to 5, which sparked opposition from Marathi-speaking populations across the state. The Thackerays have capitalized on this issue, positioning themselves as champions of Marathi asmita (self-respect) and seeking to push back against the BJP's Hindutva-led mobilization.

While the reunion has been seen as a success, with many Marathi-speaking people attending and showing their support, it is not without its challenges. Both parties have maintained that the event was non-political and non-committal about an electoral alliance, and a formal alliance would require cooperation and understanding between the two cousins, who have been bitter foes in the past.

Despite these challenges, the reunion has sparked hope among workers and leaders that the Thackerays can once again become a potent force in Maharashtra politics and counter the BJP's Hindutva agenda. The event has been seen as a positive development, with many expressing optimism about the future and the potential for the Thackerays to win again.