Latest news with #Marathi-speakers
NDTV
a day ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Thackeray Cousins To Contest Mumbai, Other Civic Polls Together: Sanjay Raut
Mumbai: The civic polls in Mumbai and other key cities will see cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, earlier not on amicable terms, form an alliance, said Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut. "The Thackeray brothers (Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray) will contest the municipal corporation elections in Mumbai, Thane, Nashik and Kalyan-Dombivali together and win. The strength of Raj and Uddhav Thackeray is the strength of the unity of the Marathi-speakers. No power cannot break the iron fist of `Marathi manus' now," Raut told reporters. Civic polls are due in Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan-Dombivali, Navi Mumbai, Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi-Nizamapur, Vasai-Virar, Mira-Bhayandar and Panvel, apart from other cities like Nashik. Mr Raut said Uddhav and Raj Thackeray have the support of the Marathi-speaking population, adding that discussions are on between Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leaders on the way forward. Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Girish Mahajan said anyone can separate or unite in a democracy. "They should win the elections in Mumbai, Pune and Nashik first, and then talk any further," he said. Bharat Gogavale, a leader of the Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, said the ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shinde Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, will win all civic polls. Two decades after Raj Thackeray quit the Shiv Sena, talks of a Raj-Uddhav reunion began in April as discussions on the Marathi identity and Hindi "imposition" in Maharashtra gained momentum. The fight for language also likely poses a political opportunity for the fledgling Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, smarting from the 15 per cent vote share it garnered in the Assembly elections last year, as the Mahayuti marched to a comfortable victory. The MNS ended with a blank slate. The civic polls, especially in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) which the Uddhav Sena considers its citadel, are thus a matter of prestige for the Shiv Sena (UBT). The state government's flip-flop on the three-language policy and the introduction of Hindi as a third language proved a galvanising force for the parties led by the cousins. In the run-up to these municipal elections, the brothers have already shared the stage at a victory rally in Mumbai earlier this month to celebrate the rollback of the Hindi language GRs (resolutions) by the BJP-led government. "We have come together to stay together. We will together capture power in the Mumbai civic body and Maharashtra," Uddhav Thackeray said, evoking loud cheers from the crowd in the packed NSCI Dome in Worli. Raj Thackeray said that, after the language row, the government's next move in politics will be to divide people on caste. "The BJP's ploy is to divide and rule," he charged. "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," Uddhav Thackeray had added.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘No power can break…': Sanjay Raut says Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance for civic polls, BJP responds
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Friday said Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) will contest the upcoming civic elections in Mumbai together. The cousins, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, reunited for a political rally for the first time in two decades last month when they held a joint one in Mumbai over the Marathi language row.(AFP File) According to Raut, both parties, led by the Thackeray cousins, will also contest the local body elections all over Maharashtra together. "The Thackeray brothers (Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray) will contest the municipal corporation elections in Mumbai, Thane, Nashik and Kalyan-Dombivali together and win. The strength of Raj and Uddhav Thackeray is the strength of the unity of the Marathi-speakers. No power can break the iron fist of `Marathi manus' now," Raut was quoted by PTI as saying. The Rajya Sabha MP said that the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) is already in talks with the MNS to form an alliance. The Thackeray cousins reunited for a political rally for the first time in two decades last month when they held a joint one in Mumbai over the Marathi language row. They have been hinting at an alliance for some time now, with Uddhav saying that they had come together to stay together. BJP dismisses the Thackeray alliance Maharashtra's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to be unfazed by the alliance between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray and quickly dismissed Sanjay Raut's statement. BJP's Pravin Darekar, a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, said it was unclear whether the two Thackeray cousins had held any talks or if it was all Raut's "guesswork". "We have not seen so much helplessness in Uddhav Thackeray, who did not remember his own cousin, MNS chief Raj Thackeray, for the last 20 years," he said. Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Girish Mahajan said the Shiv Sena (UBT) remembers Marathi-speakers only when elections are near. 'The BJP received huge support from Marathi voters in last year's assembly elections and the attempt to mislead them did not work," he said.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Thackeray brothers unite! 'Uddhav and Raj to contest civic elections together,' says Sanjay Raut
NEW DELHI: Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena are set to contest civic elections together in at least four Maharashtra districts, Sanjay Raut said on Friday. He further informed that the discussions to form an alliance with MNS were under way. "The Thackeray brothers (Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray ) will contest the municipal corporation elections in Mumbai, Thane, Nashik and Kalyan-Dombivali together and win," PTI quoted Raut saying. "The strength of Raj and Uddhav Thackeray is the strength of the unity of the Marathi-speakers. No power cannot break the iron fist of `Marathi manus' now," he added. However, Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Girish Mahajan accused the Sena (UBT) of remembering Marathi-speakers only during election season, adding that last year's assembly results showed Marathi voters largely backed the BJP and were not swayed by attempts to mislead them. Moreover, the state BJP legislator Pravin Darekar wondered whether it was true or just Raut's "guesswork". "We have not seen so much helplessness in Uddhav Thackeray, who did not remember his own cousin, MNS chief Raj Thackeray for the last 20 years," he said.
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Uddhav, Raj Thackeray To Contest Mumbai, Other Civic Body Polls Together: Sanjay Raut
Last Updated: Sanjay Raut announced Uddhav and Raj Thackeray will unite for upcoming Mumbai civic polls, aiming to strengthen Marathi identity and challenge the BJP-led government. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut said that the civic polls in Mumbai and other key cities will see cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray — once not on amicable terms — joining forces in an alliance. 'The Thackeray brothers (Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray) will contest the municipal corporation elections in Mumbai, Thane, Nashik and Kalyan-Dombivali together and win. The strength of Raj and Uddhav Thackeray is the strength of the unity of the Marathi-speakers. No power can break the iron fist of `Marathi manus' now," Raut told reporters. Civic polls are scheduled in Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Navi Mumbai, Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Vasai-Virar, Mira-Bhayandar, and Panvel, as well as in other cities such as Nashik. Raut said Uddhav and Raj Thackeray have the support of the Marathi-speaking population, adding that discussions are on between Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leaders on the way forward. Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Girish Mahajan said that in a democracy, people are free to part ways or come together. 'They should win the elections in Mumbai, Pune and Nashik first, and then talk any further," he said. Bharat Gogavale, a leader of the Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, said the ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shinde Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, will win all civic polls. Two decades after Raj Thackeray left the Shiv Sena, speculation about a Raj-Uddhav reunion began in April amid growing debates over Marathi identity and the perceived 'imposition" of Hindi in Maharashtra. The fight for language also likely poses a political opportunity for the fledgling Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, smarting from the 15 per cent vote share it garnered in the Assembly elections last year, as the Mahayuti marched to a comfortable victory. The MNS ended with a blank slate. The civic polls, especially in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) which the Uddhav Sena considers its citadel, are thus a matter of prestige for the Shiv Sena (UBT). The state government's flip-flop on the three-language policy and the introduction of Hindi as a third language proved a galvanising force for the parties led by the cousins. Earlier this month, to celebrate the rollback of the Hindi language GRs (resolutions) by the BJP-led government and in the run-up to these municipal elections, the brothers had already shared the stage at a victory rally in Mumbai. 'We have come together to stay together. We will together capture power in the Mumbai civic body and Maharashtra," Uddhav Thackeray said, evoking loud cheers from the crowd in the packed NSCI Dome in Worli. Raj Thackeray alleged that following the language controversy, the government's next political strategy would be to create divisions based on caste, accusing the BJP of employing a 'divide and rule" tactic. 'Mumbai was ours, 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," Uddhav Thackeray had added. view comments First Published: August 15, 2025, 21:09 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray will contest civic elections together, says Sanjay Raut
Synopsis Sanjay Raut announced that Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS will contest upcoming civic elections together in Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, and Kalyan-Dombivali, aiming to unite Marathi-speakers. Raut stated discussions are ongoing with MNS for an alliance. BJP leaders dismissed the announcement, questioning whether the Thackeray cousins had even spoken and accusing Sena (UBT) of only remembering Marathi voters near elections. PTI Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Friday said his party and Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena will contest the coming civic elections in Mumbai and elsewhere together."The Thackeray brothers (Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray) will contest the municipal corporation elections in Mumbai, Thane, Nashik and Kalyan-Dombivali together and win. The strength of Raj and Uddhav Thackeray is the strength of the unity of the Marathi-speakers. No power cannot break the iron fist of 'Marathi manus' now," Raut told reporters here. Discussions with the MNS for forming an alliance are underway, Raut BJP, however, dismissed his statement. Pravin Darekar, a state BJP legislator, said it was unclear whether the two Thackeray cousins had held any talks or it was all Raut's "guesswork". "We have not seen so much helplessness in Uddhav Thackeray, who did not remember his own cousin, MNS chief Raj Thackeray for the last 20 years," he minister and BJP leader Girish Mahajan said the Sena (UBT) remembers Marathi-speakers only when elections are near. The BJP received huge support from Marathi voters in the last year's assembly elections and the attempt to mislead them did not work, he said.
