GG News Bureau
Mumbai, 5th July: In a dramatic political reunion, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday shared a stage with his estranged cousin and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray after nearly two decades, taking a swipe at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and accusing the Maharashtra government of attempting to impose Hindi on the state.
Addressing a massive “mega victory gathering” in Mumbai to mark the state government’s rollback of the three-language formula in primary schools, Raj Thackeray said, “Chief Minister Fadnavis has done what even Balasaheb Thackeray could not—he brought me and Uddhav together.”
The Fadnavis-led government had issued an order on April 16, mandating Hindi as a compulsory third language for Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools. Following widespread protests and political backlash, the order was amended on June 17, making Hindi optional.
“You may have power in the Vidhan Bhawan, but we have power on the streets,” Raj declared to loud cheers from MNS and Sena (UBT) supporters. He said the policy reversal was achieved due to the united resistance of Marathi-speaking people.
Calling the three-language policy a “precursor” to attempts at separating Mumbai from Maharashtra, Raj Thackeray warned of larger implications behind the move.
Uddhav Thackeray, speaking after Raj, said, “We have come together and will stay together. This stage is more important than any speech.” He added that he “won’t let the government impose Hindi on us,” reinforcing the alliance’s stand on preserving Marathi identity and resisting central impositions.
The duo last appeared together publicly in 2005, before Raj left the Shiv Sena and launched his own political outfit, the MNS, in 2006.
The joint appearance is being viewed as a major political development in Maharashtra’s regional landscape ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.
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