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Thackeray Unity Buzz: Raj and Uddhav share stage at Raut’s event, followed by surprise meet at Matoshree!
- by Webdesk
- 06 Oct 2025
Source: The Times Of India
Mumbai: Political circles in Maharashtra were abuzz on Sunday after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray paid a visit to Matoshree, the Bandra residence of his cousin and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, fueling speculation about a possible alliance between the two parties ahead of the local body elections.
Earlier in the day, both Raj and Uddhav Thackeray had made a joint appearance at a family celebration hosted by Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut at the MCA Club in Bandra-Kurla Complex. The event was also attended by several prominent Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders, including Aaditya Thackeray, Anil Desai, and Milind Narvekar. Following the function, Raj Thackeray went straight to Matoshree, where he reportedly held a 30-minute private discussion with Uddhav.
This meeting holds particular significance as Raj Thackeray has rarely visited Matoshree since breaking away from the Shiv Sena nearly two decades ago to form his own party, the MNS. Prior to this, he had visited the Thackeray home only on two occasions — once in July this year, to personally wish his “elder brother” Uddhav on his 65th birthday, and earlier in 2019, when he invited the Thackeray family to his son’s wedding.
In a reflection of renewed warmth between the cousins, Uddhav Thackeray himself had visited Raj’s Dadar residence in Shivaji Park in August during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival for Ganpati darshan. According to Sena (UBT) insiders, Raj had personally called Uddhav to extend the invitation for the visit. Later, Sanjay Raut too paid a courtesy visit to Raj’s residence, further fueling talk of growing proximity between the two Thackerays.
Their next significant meeting took place on September 10, when Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut once again met Raj at his residence. The meeting reportedly lasted for over two and a half hours, during which the leaders are believed to have discussed both personal matters and the evolving political scenario in the state.
Following the meeting, Raut clarified that the visit was primarily a family courtesy call, as Raj’s mother Kunda Thackeray had requested Uddhav to drop by since the family had been unable to spend enough time together during their earlier Ganeshotsav gathering. However, despite the official explanation, sources within both Sena (UBT) and MNS suggested that political discussions — particularly on the possibility of a Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance and seat-sharing in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections — were very much on the agenda.
The September 10 meeting also took place just two days after a delegation from the Congress Party met Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree to discuss the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) strategy for the upcoming local body elections, including whether the MNS might join the opposition alliance in some form.
Party insiders note that the frequency of meetings between the two Thackeray cousins has increased noticeably over the past few months, signaling a potential realignment in Maharashtra’s political landscape. Their growing camaraderie was first noticed after the July 5 “Victory Rally”, when both cousins had publicly supported each other following the state government’s controversial rollback of the three-language formula for school students — a decision that had been widely criticized for allegedly promoting Hindi at the expense of Marathi.
The possibility of a Thackeray alliance has stirred excitement among Marathi voters, many of whom see the unity between Uddhav and Raj as a symbolic reunion of the original Shiv Sena spirit founded by the late Balasaheb Thackeray. However, analysts caution that while emotional appeal may favor such an alliance, the seat-sharing formula and organizational coordination between the two parties could still prove challenging.
If the alliance materializes, it could significantly alter the political equation in Mumbai’s civic elections, where the BJP-Shinde-led Mahayuti currently holds administrative power. The BMC, once a bastion of the undivided Shiv Sena for over two decades, has been without an elected body since March 2022, and elections are expected to be announced later this year.
Political observers say that both Uddhav and Raj are aware of the strategic importance of Mumbai, not just as a financial capital but as a symbol of Marathi identity and pride. By presenting a united front, the Thackeray cousins aim to consolidate the Marathi vote bank, counter the BJP-Shinde alliance’s influence, and reclaim the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shiv Sena in the city.
For now, neither camp has made an official statement about the alliance. However, the frequent meetings, public appearances, and cordial gestures between the two Thackerays have clearly set the stage for what could be one of the most closely watched political developments ahead of the 2025 BMC elections.
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