Mumbai: After a series of social and courtesy meetings between them, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray met for a marathon meeting on Wednesday. Uddhav visited Raj’s home at Shivaji Park with party MP Sanjay Raut. The discussions lasted for close to two and a half hours. Shiv Sena (UBT) functionaries said that with Wednesday’s meeting, a Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance for the BMC polls is certain. Raut, though, said the visit happened because Raj’s mother, Kunda, had asked Uddhav to visit since the family had not been able to spend much time together during a recent Ganeshotsav visit. He said Uddhav went to meet her and the family. Functionaries from both parties said there could be further talks on the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance and seat sharing for the BMC polls, and more rounds of meetings are expected.Uddhav’s meeting with Raj comes two days after a delegation of Congress politicians visited Uddhav’s home, Matoshree, and discussed the state of MVA for the upcoming local body polls and whether the MNS would be part of the MVA. A functionary mentioned that the MNS was expecting 90-95 seats in the BMC polls—there are 227 seats in the civic house—but seat-to-seat negotiations would “rationalise” this number. Political observers noted that this was a “political” meeting, even though it could have been a family affair.Political observers said the meeting signalled a shift from symbolic gestures to a meeting many described as political. Raut dismissed it as speculation. “There was no political discussion. The truth is that Kunda, the mother of Raj Thackeray, asked Uddhav to visit. She said during our Ganpati visit that we were not able to speak at length. So let’s sit and speak. Hence, we went to Raj Thackeray’s house to meet Uddhav’s aunt,” Raut said.Last month, Uddhav visited Raj’s home for Ganpati darshan. Shiv Sena (UBT) functionaries said Raj called Uddhav and invited him for Ganpati darshan during this Ganesh festival. Raut also visited Raj’s home. This was yet another instance of a display of bonhomie between the two cousins.“Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray visited the residence of MNS chief Raj Thackeray, ‘Shivtirth’, on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi to take darshan. On this occasion, Rashmi Thackeray, Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, as well as the Thackeray family members, were present,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) said in a post on X.In July, Raj visited Matoshree, the Thackeray residence in Bandra (East), to wish his ‘big brother Shiv Sena chief’ Uddhav a happy birthday. Uddhav welcomed Raj with a warm hug, and Raj gave Uddhav a bouquet of red roses on his 65th birthday. Raj visited Matoshree for the first time since he split from the Shiv Sena and formed the MNS in 2006. After the courtesies, Raj and Uddhav spoke for close to 20 minutes, and Raj’s visit is seen as a cementing factor in the MNS-Sena (UBT) alliance for the local body polls slated for November-December this year.Political observers said that Raj and Uddhav meeting twice in less than a month is a clear indication that after a family reunion, a political reunion was on the cards and could be announced once the elections are formally announced. Sunday’s birthday meeting was Raj and Uddhav’s second public appearance after the Hindi imposition rally on July 5. Political observers said Raj’s visit was a reciprocal step on his part to Uddhav’s comments that the two cousins came together to be together. Political observers said in the minds of the Sainiks, Matoshree has sanctity, and Raj going there is also an acceptance on his part of Uddhav’s seniority as big brother and Sena (UBT) president.
