Raj's Resolve, Uddhav's Big Hint: A Thackeray Reunion 20 Years In Making

After a political separation that spanned two decades, cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray united today at a public rally in Mumbai.  The event, titled 'Awaj Marathicha' (Voice of the Marathi), has been jointly organised by Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), marking the first time since 2005 that the two estranged leaders shared a stage.

The ruling Mahayuti coalition's recent rollback of a controversial policy mandating Hindi as a third language in Maharashtra's primary schools has served as the trigger for this show of unity by the Thackeray cousins. Both Uddhav, 64, and Raj, 57, had strongly opposed the proposal, and the rally is being positioned as a "victory" for Marathi linguistic identity.

Raj Thackeray's Resolve

"What Bal Thackeray could not do, what many others could not do, Devendra Fadnavis did  - bring us together," said Raj Thackeray on stage. "You may have power in the Vidhan Bhawan, we have power on the roads." 

"Where did you get this three-language formula from? This came only from the central government. Today, in the High Court and the Supreme Court, everything is in English. It is not there in any other state. Why only in Maharashtra? When Maharashtra awakens, you see what happens," he said. 

With the BMC elections approaching, this move is being seen as more than just the estranged cousins coming together for a cultural protest, but also a politically crucial move ahead of the polls.

"Hindi is just a 200-year-old language. Try putting your hands on Mumbai or Maharashtra, you will see what happens," Raj Thackeray warned. "People should be able to speak Marathi, no debate on this. If somebody does drama, then they must be slapped. But there is no need to hit people randomly." 

"There will be no compromise on Marathi language," Raj Thackeray resolved. 

The last time Raj and Uddhav appeared together in public was during the Malvan Assembly by-election campaign in 2005. At that time, the Shiv Sena was still a united entity under the towering presence of Bal Thackeray. The by-poll was necessitated by the resignation of Narayan Rane, a senior Shiv Sena leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister, who had quit the party following internal disagreements.

Photo Credit: IANS

Shortly after that campaign, Raj Thackeray left Shiv Sena. In November 2005, in an emotionally charged press conference at Shivaji Park, Raj announced his resignation from the party his uncle had founded. "All I had asked for was respect. All I got was insult and humiliation," he said, stopping short of directly naming his cousin Uddhav.

Uddhav Thackeray's Big Hint

After Raj Thackeray's explosive speech, his cousin Uddhav took a softer stance and began his speech with a quip.

"After so many years, Raj and I met on a stage. The problem is, he called me 'respected Uddhav Thackeray'. So I will also say, 'respected Raj Thackeray," said Uddhav. 

It was in January 2003 that Bal Thackeray named his son Uddhav as the working president of the party. The announcement was formally made by Raj Thackeray himself. Raj Thackeray had long been viewed by party workers and outside observers as Bal Thackeray's political heir.

Within party ranks, resentment had been simmering. Raj's supporters complained of being sidelined. They alleged bias in ticket distribution and the gradual marginalisation of those aligned with him. 

But 20 years later, things seem to have calmed down between the cousins. 

"Everyone who is here has forgotten the party division for Marathi. One thing is clear: we have removed the distance between us. We have come together, we will stay together," Uddhav Thackeray declared. 

"Mumbai was our right, we fought and got it. We have to expose the BJP's 'one nation, one election' idea. Slowly, they want to make everything one. Hindu and Hindustan, we agree but we won't allow Hindi. We made Marathi compulsory; we had to do it," he added.