Uddhav-Raj unite for Rally at Worli Dome after two decades
A Grand rally us being held. in Mumbai on Saturday 5 July to celebrate Marathi unity
Comes amid speculation of warring Thackeray cousins joining hands
BJP and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) express scepticism over reunion motive
In a significant development in Maharashtra’s political landscape, Raj and Uddhav Thackeray, estranged for two decades, will reunite on Saturday (July 5) to champion the cause of the Marathi language. This rare reunion of the Thackeray cousins has set ablaze speculation on whether it could mean a new political alignment in a state acknowledged for its dynamic political shifts.
The stimulus for this reunion was their joint opposition to the proposed three-language formula, which prompted the Mahayuti government to backtrack and put the policy on hold. To celebrate “this triumph of Marathi unity”, the rally was held at 10 am at the NSCI Dome in Worli. The event expectantly attracted a diverse crowd, including Marathi enthusiasts, writers, poets, educators, editors and artists.
The victory rally was a plan by the leaders of both the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) at the Worli Dome to accommodate a massive turnout. The stage hosted Raj and Uddhav Thackeray alongside the presidents or state chiefs of the participating parties.
The Worli Dome has the capacity to seat 7,000-8,000 people, with LED screens installed inside, outside, and along nearby roads to ensure visibility for all attendees. Surging crowds were accommodated with additional outdoor LED screens.
Notably, NCP founder Sharad Pawar and Congress leader Harshavardhan Sapkal are unlikely to attend the rally. Both leaders were invited by the MNS to attend the ‘victory rally’ being organised jointly with Uddhav Thackeray’s faction. However, MNS sources said they were unable to reach out to Sapkal as he remained unavailable.
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Sharad Pawar will be in Mumbai on the day of the rally but is unlikely to attend the event.
The reunion of the Thackerays has drawn scepticism from the ruling party, with BJP MP Narayan Rane arguing that the brothers’ unity is less about Marathi pride and more about securing their political relevance in the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls.
Also, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) leader Ramdas Kadam claimed that most of the Marathi people were compelled to leave Mumbai during the tenure of Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-ruled BMC for nearly 30 years.
However, MNS leader Prakash Mahajan is hopeful of a positive sign for the unity of Marathi people.
As both brothers face challenging political circumstances, the rally has sparked widespread interest. Could this reunion pave the way for a broader political reconciliation to bolster their standing in Maharashtra’s competitive political arena?
The Worli Dome event may prove to be more than a celebration – it could mark a pivotal moment for the Thackeray brothers and Maharashtra’s political future.
News Edit KV Raman
