THACKERAY IS NOW BHAI BHAI, BJP WORRIED

ARE THE THACKERAYS REUNITING?

• The families of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) supremo Raj Thackeray reunited on Friday for a Diwali event, which fueled the buzz around their political alliance in Maharashtra ahead of the Mumbai civic polls.
• Uddhav and his family took part in ‘Deepotsav’, an annual event organized by the MNS, at central Mumbai’s Shivaji Park.
• The event was symbolic as both Uddhav and Raj Thackeray arrived at the venue in the same car in full media glare.
• Uddhav’s son Aditya and Raj’s son Amit arrived in another car, while Uddhav’s younger son Tejas and Raj’s younger daughter Urvashi were seen in the rear seat of the vehicle.
• Uddhav Thackeray’s wife, Rashmi and Raj’s spouse, Sharmila, arrived in another car to participate in the event.
• “Today’s Diwali is special. The unity of Marathi manoos and its light will bring happiness in everyone’s lives,” Uddhav said at the event.
• Amit Thackeray shared pictures of the event on Instagram, saying, “Moment of happiness, festival of relationships. Happy Diwali to all from Thackeray family!”

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE THE THACKERAY COUSINS MET THIS YEAR?

• This was the seventh time – third in October – that the Thackeray cousins have met since July 5.
• The two leaders attended the “naamkaran” ceremony of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Raut’s grandchild in Mumbai previously.
• Later, in an unannounced development, Raj drove to Uddhav’s residence, Matoshree, and held a closed-door meeting with his brother.
• According to sources, the meeting, which lasted for nearly 40 minutes, was entirely private and confidential.
• No prior schedule had been made public, and the visit came as a complete surprise – even to senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders.
• The meetings between Raj and Uddhav have become more frequent after their joint July 5 “victory” rally to celebrate the Maharashtra government’s rollback of its contentious orders on the three-language formula for students of classes 1 to 5 amid charges of imposition of Hindi in the state dominated by Marathi speakers.
• Although Raj quit the undivided Shiv Sena in 2005, blaming Uddhav for his exit, the drubbing of their parties in the 2024 assembly polls appears to have pushed the rivals to improve ties.
• Both parties have dropped hints of forging an alliance for the upcoming polls to local bodies, including the BMC, although they are yet to announce a formal tie-up.

Editor’s Note

• The Thackeray reunion this Diwali was more than a family celebration — it was a signal. Once divided by ambition and ideology, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray now appear to be inching toward a political realignment that could redraw Maharashtra’s power map. In a state where optics often precede outcomes, their symbolic car ride together through Shivaji Park spoke louder than any speech. Whether this rekindled camaraderie evolves into a genuine alliance or remains a festive photo-op, one truth stands out — Maharashtra’s politics is shifting again, and the BJP is watching closely.
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