Uddhav-Raj Thackeray reunion: Are Sena (UBT) and MNS leaders ready for alliance?
NEW DELHI: As the rumors about
and his estranged cousin
's reunion start getting traction, the leaders of
(UBT) and
(MNS) said that personal relationships and organisational alignment need addressing.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The cousins' recent statements suggest a possible reconciliation after nearly 20 years of separation, with both expressing willingness to overlook minor differences.
The Sena (UBT) recently shared an enigmatic social media message stating, "Time has come to unite for the sake of Mumbai and Maharashtra.
Shivsainiks
are ready for the protection of Marathi asmita (pride)." Both cousins are currently overseas, with Raj expected to return in late April and Uddhav in early May.
This reunion speculation emerges as both parties face their most challenging political period, with poor electoral performance. The Sena (UBT) secured 20 seats in the 2024 assembly polls, while the MNS failed to win any seats.
Leaders of both parties have, however, said that though Uddhav's response to Raj's call may have sparked speculation, it is easier said than done.
Party officials indicate that despite the positive signals, implementation remains complex.
A Sena (UBT) representative highlighted the cousins' contrasting personalities. Historical tensions persist since Raj's 2005 departure from Shiv Sena, which he attributed to Uddhav. Raj has consistently maintained he would only work under Bal Thackeray's leadership.
The situation extends beyond the two leaders to their families, particularly their sons Aaditya and Amit, who are being prepared for future leadership roles.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Prakash Akolkar, author of "Jai Maharashtra", notes this differs from previous political alliances, as it involves a personal family dispute over Bal Thackeray's legacy.
"The fight between Uddhav and Raj is personal and a family feud, where both brothers are vying for the family assets. The assets are not always monetary. Here, the asset is Bal Thackeray's legacy," Akolkar said.
Practical challenges include seat-sharing arrangements in stronghold areas like Dadar and Worli, and ideological differences.
"When we discuss seat-sharing agreements in Mumbai, how will the seats be divided? How will the winnable and non-winnable seats be divided? What about areas like Dadar and Worli, where both parties have a strong base? What about other cities where Sena (UBT) and MNS have their strength," an MNS leader said.
He also raised the question of ideologies.
While Raj is fashioning himself into a Marathi-Hindutva leader, Uddhav has focused on making the party more inclusive, especially warming up to the Muslim community.
"If Uddhav has asked us to sever ties with the BJP, will he do the same with the Congress?" asked the MNS leader.
While Raj positions himself as a Marathi-Hindutva leader, Uddhav has adopted a more inclusive approach, particularly towards the Muslim community. MNS representatives have raised concerns about reconciling these divergent positions and addressing past grievances.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
21 minutes ago
- India Today
As Mamata govt reinstates 74 castes in Bengal OBC list, why BJP says Hindus deprived
On June 10, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee presented the annual report of the West Bengal Commission for Backward Classes (WBCBC) for the financial year 2024-25 in the legislative assembly, where she defended her government's recent decision to expand the OBC (Other Backward Classes) from the floor of the House, Mamata emphatically denied allegations that her administration was using religion as a criterion for reservations, asserting that socio-economic backwardness alone determined a significant move, the state cabinet, led by Mamata, had earlier cleared the inclusion of 76 additional castes to the OBC list. Of these, 74 had previously lost recognition due to a Calcutta High Court ruling, and have now been reinstated following due procedure. The two new additions—Sadgope and Nepali Brahmin—are being included for the first a politically significant move, the state cabinet, led by Mamata, had a day earlier cleared the inclusion of 76 additional castes to the OBC list. Of these, 74 had previously lost recognition due to a Calcutta High Court ruling, and have now been reinstated following due procedure. The two new additions—Sadgope and Nepali Brahmin—are being included for the first time. Importantly, of the 140 communities currently recommended by the commission for inclusion under OBC categories, 79 belong to Muslim communities and 61 to non-Muslim groups—highlighting that, in terms of sheer numerical representation, the majority of recognised OBC sub-castes in West Bengal remain religious composition has become a flashpoint in the political discourse, with the Opposition BJP alleging that the OBC policy has been meddled with to appease Muslims. In fact, this was the point of contention that led to the cancellation of the previous OBC her address, Mamata pushed back against what she called a 'baseless' campaign. 'A section is trying to spread the falsehood that our government is giving reservation on the basis of religion. This is completely untrue. The OBC list is not—and will not be—prepared on religious grounds,' she WBCBC conducted fresh surveys following a May 2024 Calcutta High Court judgment, which struck down the inclusion of 109 castes in the OBC list, citing procedural lapses. These inclusions, made since 2010 under the previous Left Front government and continued under Trinamool Congress (TMC) rule, were invalidated as they did not meet judicial standards for evidence-based backwardness. The ruling was a significant setback to the state government's affirmative action clarified that the state government has challenged the high court ruling in the Supreme Court and, with the apex court's permission, resumed the process of inclusion based on new data. 'The Supreme Court gave us three months to prepare a fresh list. The commission carried out field-level socio-economic surveys, and based on that, we compiled a revised list of 140 communities—49 in Category A (more backward) and 91 in Category B (less backward),' Mamata the ongoing work, Mamata said surveys were underway for another 50 communities. According to sources, among these 50, 41 are very small in terms of population size, seven are newly applying classes, and two are undergoing re-survey. The chief minister said the aim was to complete the process before the Supreme Court's also emphasised the empirical and scientific nature of the methodology. 'The WBCBC has done a meticulous job. We categorised communities into OBC-A and OBC-B based on the depth of backwardness. The more deprived sections have been placed in Category A, which is entitled to 10 per cent reservation. Those relatively less backward are in Category B, which has 7 per cent reservation,' Mamata revalidation of OBC status, she added, is critical for restarting halted recruitment processes in various government departments and educational institutions. 'As soon as the list is finalised, we can move ahead with pending recruitments,' she told the legislative the Opposition, particularly the BJP, was quick to push back. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari attempted to respond to Mamata's statement, but assembly speaker Biman Banerjee adjourned the House before he could speak, prompting BJP legislators to erupt in chief minister was unwilling to take questions from the Opposition. The ruling party essentially fled the House because they know Hindus are being deprived. We will continue our fight for justice,' Adhikari told the media outside the the state government of communalising the reservation process, he said: 'I challenge the chief minister to publish the full list of the newly added castes. Let people see for themselves how many are from Hindu backgrounds and how many are Muslim. The BJP will be a party to the case in the Supreme Court, which is scheduled for hearing on July 15, and we will defend the interests of Hindu backward communities.'The state government maintains that all documentation, data and evidence used in determining eligibility have been placed before the assembly. 'This process has followed all legal and procedural norms. Religion has no role here,' Mamata political stakes are high. With the 2026 assembly polls looming, the TMC's recalibration of OBC classifications and the BJP's sharp counteroffensive point to a deepening battle over identity, welfare and the arithmetic of electoral mobilisation. For now, the debate is likely to intensify both in the courtroom and on the campaign there would still be questions from BJP lawmakers regarding the authenticity of the list—since the majority of the classes classified so far are still Muslims—the WBCBC claims to have followed due process. 'There is evidence that proves that all these Muslim communities live in poverty and are extremely backward,' a source in the government to India Today Magazine
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Rahul Gandhi seeks time to reply on plea demanding book quoted by him for ‘defaming' Savarkar
A court in Pune on Thursday granted more time to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to file his reply on an application seeking a copy of the book quoted by him while making an alleged defamatory statement against freedom fighter V D Savarkar during his speech in London. Gandhi is likely to submit his 'say' through his lawyer Milind Pawar to special judge Amol Shinde of the MP/MLA court in Pune, during the next hearing of the defamation case scheduled on July 3. Satyaki Savarkar had filed the defamation complaint against Gandhi for his alleged objectionable remarks against freedom fighter and Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, during a speech in London on March 5, 2023. Satyaki is the grandnephew of V D Savarkar. According to Satyaki, Gandhi had said in his speech that Savarkar wrote a book in which he stated that he and five to six of his friends beat up a Muslim and were 'delighted' about it. Satyaki said V D Savarkar had not written any such book as claimed by Gandhi, nor has such an incident ever happened. Earlier, Rahul's lawyer Milind Pawar had filed an application before the court seeking an English translation of the book 'Mazi Janmathep' authored by V D Savarkar, another book 'Hindutva' also authored by him, and the family tree of Satyaki Savarkar. Satyaki's lawyer Sangram Kolhatkar provided the same to advocate Pawar in the court. Last month, Satyaki filed an application before the court through advocate Kolhatkar, seeking directions for Gandhi to produce the book allegedly written by V D Savarkar, which was cited by him in his alleged defamatory statement. 'The above-mentioned book is necessary for a fair trial. Previously, this court had granted permission to the accused to obtain the book titled 'Hindutva' written by Veer Savarkar from the complainant. Hence, on the same grounds and principles, the complainant too should be granted the same relief in the interest of justice and fair trial,' the application stated. The court had asked advocate Pawar to file a 'say' on this application on behalf of Gandhi. But on Thursday, Pawar filed another application seeking more time for filing the 'say'. Pawar submitted in his plea that Gandhi is holding a constitutional post (Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha) and is occupied with official duties and public responsibilities of utmost importance. It further stated that 'due to certain unavoidable and unforeseen circumstances, the defence is unable to file say/reply on the said application….' Pawar sought reasonable time from the court to file a detailed reply to Satyaki's application. The court allowed Pawar's plea and kept the matter for hearing on July 3. During the last hearing, the court had rejected an application filed by Gandhi seeking the maternal family tree of Satyaki. Satyaki's mother Himani Ashok Savarkar is the daughter of Gopal Godse, the younger brother of Nathuram Godse, Mahatma Gandhi's assassin. Rejecting Gandhi's plea, the court had observed that Satyaki is the grandson of one of the brothers of late V D Savarkar and the said case is not related to the family tree of his mother Himani Savarkar.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Twist in UP politics: Swami Prasad Maurya launches bloc, names himself CM candidate
Former minister and a prominent OBC face in Uttar Pradesh politics, Swami Prasad Maurya on Thursday announced the launch of a new political front - Lok Morcha - comprising nine small parties. Addressing a press conference, Maurya declared himself as the chief ministerial candidate of the Morcha. 'We will launch a campaign for the 2027 assembly election with the slogan - UP Bachao - BJP Hatao (Save UP - Remove BJP from power). The parties that joined Lok Morcha include Apni Janata Party led by Swami Prasad Maurya, Rashtriya Samanta Dal led by Motilal Shastri, Samyak Party led by Rajamani Suvvaiya Rai, Janseva Dal led by Vinesh Thakur, Political Justice Party led by Rajesh Siddharth, Sarvlokhit Samaj Party led by Satya Narayan Maurya, Swatantra Janata Raj Party led by Ghanshyam Kori, Sabka Dal-U led by Pramod Lodhi and Loktantra Suraksha Party led by Rajkumar Saini. Majority of the parties forming the Lok Morcha are led by leaders from backward communities. Maurya said the Lok Morcha will launch a movement across UP on public issues. From Friday, the leaders of the Morcha will organise meetings in the various districts of Lucknow division to enlighten people about the programme and ideology of the Morcha. The representation of the various castes in the party organisation will be given according to their population- 'jiski jitni sankha bhari- uski utni hissedari' will be our slogan to win the support of various castes, he said. Launching a scathing attack on the state government, Murya said that law and order has deteriorated, reservation is not implemented in hiring staff through outsourcing, the price of the essential commodities has skyrocketed, education has been privatised and children coming from poor families are deprived of education, the farmers are exploited and the Muslim community is terrorised, he said. The Lok Morcha will raise a demand for polling through ballot papers in assembly and Lok Sabha elections, he said. Once a close aide of BSP chief Mayawati, Maurya was minister in the BSP government - 2007-12. On August 8, 2016 he joined the BJP along with his supporters. He was given a ticket from his traditional seat Padrauna in the 2017 assembly election, Maurya represented Padrauna seat in the assembly in 2009 by poll and 2012 assembly election as well. He won the seat again in the 2017 assembly election and was made minister in the BJP government. He rose in rebellion before the 2022 assembly election and joined the Samajwadi Party. He contested assembly election from Fazilnagar seat but was defeated by the BJP candidate. Later, in February 2024 he quit the Samajwadi Party.
