Thackeray Reunion Buzz: Uddhav & Raj Together Again

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

Uddhav and Raj Thackeray meet at a wedding, sparking reunion talks after two decades!
The two brothers seen laughing together, causing a stir in political circles.
Raj Thackeray left Shiv Sena in 2005, formed MNS in 2006.
This is the third time the two have appeared together publicly in the last three months.
Will the two brothers come together in the upcoming elections? Speculations intensify among political pundits.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

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Recent photos of Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin Raj Thackeray, smiling together at a wedding, have ignited a strong reunion buzz between the Thackeray brothers after two decades of separation. Raj Thackeray, chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), was spotted sharing a candid moment with his cousin Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) and his wife Rashmi Thackeray at a wedding in Andheri, Mumbai on Sunday night. The wedding, hosted by government official Mahendra Kalyankar for his son, provided a backdrop for the rare interaction between the two brothers, who have been estranged for nearly two decades.

Uddhav and Raj are first cousins twice over. Their fathers, Bal Thackeray and Shrikant Thackeray, are brothers, and their mothers, Meenatai (nee Sarla Vaidya) and Kundatai aka Madhuwanti, are sisters. For years, the Thackeray brothers worked together as Shiv Sena leaders until November 27, 2005, when Raj resigned from the party and announced the formation of MNS on March 9, 2006, in Mumbai.

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For two decades, the Thackeray brothers have engaged in bitter mud-slinging, mincing no words to attack each other. However, the recent pictures of the meeting between the two show them exchanging candid conversation and sharing a laugh, hinting at a possible reconciliation.

Why Raj Left Shiv Sena

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Raj Thackeray’s departure from Shiv Sena in November 2005, followed by the formation of his own party, MNS, in March 2006, marked the beginning of a public rift between the Thackeray brothers. Over the years, the divide deepened, with both political leaders taking separate paths and often criticizing each other’s policies and decisions.

“I wouldn’t wish a day such as today even on my worst enemy,” Raj had told the media during his resignation, adding, “All I had asked for was respect (from Matoshree, the Bandra residence of Sena chief Bal Thackeray and his son, Uddhav). All I got was insult and humiliation.” This statement highlighted the deep-seated grievances that led to his departure.

When Eknath Shinde defected from Shiv Sena, Raj Thackeray blamed Uddhav for the split and reminded him that he had faced a similar situation. This comment reignited the past tensions and underscored the political challenges within the Thackeray family.

“What happened? Neither Fadnavis played any role nor Amit Shah. You have to give credit to Uddhav (Thackeray). After all, it did not happen only once,” Raj said in an interview with a Marathi channel. He further blamed Uddhav’s leadership style and the people around him for the crisis within the Shiv Sena.

“Even some people accuse Sanjay Raut and his statements behind the collapse of the government but that is not so. He comes and gives statements with arrogance. After all, when I left, the reasons were the same,” he said, holding Uddhav responsible for the ongoing issues.

“People who were around Uddhav now were the same when I left,” Raj said. “Ask Shinde about the reasons. The reasons are the same,” he added, suggesting that the underlying problems within the party remained unchanged.

When asked about reports of possible electoral alliances between the two rival parties in 2014 and 2017, Raj said: “…that man can’t be trusted… talks differently, does things differently.” Raj admitted that had Balasaheb Thackeray been alive, things would have been different, implying that the late patriarch’s influence could have prevented the estrangement.

However, recent developments suggest that the thaw between them could be more than just a passing moment.

Increasing Public Appearances

This meeting in Andheri was not the first instance of the two brothers coming together. In fact, it marks their third public appearance in the last three months alone, fueling speculation about a possible reconciliation.

December 15, 2024: Raj Thackeray was seen attending the wedding of Shounak Patankar, the son of Rashmi Thackeray’s brother, Shridhar Patankar, at Taj Lands’ End in Mumbai. This was a significant event, as it showed Raj’s willingness to attend a family function hosted by Uddhav’s relatives.
December 22, 2024: Both brothers appeared at the wedding of Raj Thackeray’s sister Jaywanti Thackeray-Deshpande’s son at Raje Shivaji School in Dadar. This marked another instance where both Thackeray brothers were present at the same event, further fueling reconciliation rumors.
February 23, 2025: The recent interaction took place at the wedding of Mahendra Kalyankar’s son in Andheri, where Raj and Uddhav shared casual conversations and laughs, indicating a more relaxed and friendly atmosphere between them.

The increasing frequency of their public appearances has stirred speculation that the Thackeray brothers might be moving towards a reunion after two decades of estrangement, which could significantly impact Maharashtra’s political landscape.

Shinde or UBT?

For Raj Thackeray, Eknath Shinde had always kept his doors open, leading to speculation that the two parties might join hands. However, this potential alliance did not materialize.

In August 2024, Shinde, who joined Balasaheb Thackeray’s Shiv Sena in the early 1980s, said he believed that Raj Thackeray deserved the party command after Balasaheb stepped down but Uddhav Thackeray sidelined him. This statement highlighted the perceived unfairness in the succession within the Shiv Sena.

“When Raj Thackeray was with them, why did Raj Thackeray leave? Raj Thackeray used to work with Balasaheb. During the 1995 elections, Raj Thackeray conducted all the tours and rallies. They were together; Raj Thackeray would hold separate rallies, and he would hold separate rallies. The entire atmosphere was built, but when the time came to give Raj Thackeray responsibility, Uddhav’s intentions surfaced — just like how he desired to become the Chief Minister recently,” Shinde said in an interview with ANI.

However, the relations between Raj Thackeray and Mahayuti turned sour as Shiv Sena did not withdraw its candidate, Sada Sarvankar, from the Mahim assembly seat, and Raj’s son, Amit Thackeray, was defeated. In January this year, Raj blamed Shinde, now the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, for his party not being part of the Mahayuti alliance in the assembly elections.

Besides, there are reports of internal discord within both Mahayuti and the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA), exposing cracks in the alliances. The rift in Mahayuti only widened after the BJP-led Mahayuti government targeted another decision taken by the previous administration headed by its key ally, Shinde’s Shiv Sena. These political dynamics add complexity to any potential reconciliation between the Thackeray brothers.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember