Thackeray brothers seal alliance for BMC polls, warn Marathi voters against division
MUMBAI: Cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray on Wednesday formally announced an alliance between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other municipal corporation elections, appealing to Marathi voters not to allow divisions, warning that such a split would weaken the authority of the Marathi manoos over Mumbai. Addressing a joint gathering, Uddhav Thackeray said that the unity of Marathi people was crucial to safeguard Mumbai. He recalled the sacrifices made during the United Maharashtra movement and linked them to the present political moment. During the separation of Maharashtra and Mumbai, 106 Marathi people sacrificed their lives. In the United Maharashtra movement, our grandfather, father and relatives also participated. Shiv Sena was born for the rights and welfare of the Marathi manoos in Mumbai. Some people want to take over Mumbai; we Thackerays are here to oppose it. We have come together to remain together. If anyone attacks Mumbai, then we will not tolerate it and will fight for it, Uddhav Thackeray said. He also accused the BJP of spreading misinformation during the recent Assembly elections. Referring to the slogan katenge to batenge, he said it was used as part of a fake propaganda campaign. Now, I want to tell the Marathi manoos, if you get divided, then the Marathi manoos will lose authority over Mumbai. Therefore, we need to remain united at any cost and condition, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said. Thackeray brothers to join hands for BMC polls after 20 years Raj Thackeray said that he had always maintained that Maharashtra was bigger than any individual issue and that he was prepared to come together in the larger interest of the state. I had said earlier also that Maharashtra is bigger than any issue. For Maharashtra, I was ready to come together, and that has happened today, Raj Thackeray said. Using a sharp metaphor, he alleged that political parties were indulging in poaching leaders from rival outfits. There are many child-stealing gangs active in Maharashtra, and now there are two more additions: two political parties have started stealing from other parties, he said. Raj Thackeray said the alliance had deliberately decided not to announce candidate names or disclose seat-sharing details at this stage. We have decided, as a precaution, not to announce candidates names now. We will also not share how many seats Sena and MNS will contest. But I can say with confidence that the next mayor of Mumbai will be Marathi, and that will be from our alliance only, he said. He also warned of what he described as an impending negative and fake campaign by the BJP and its machinery. I have a lot of videos and will release them in response to their propaganda, Raj Thackeray said, adding, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should not teach us about Hindutva. The alliance announcement is seen as a significant political development ahead of the civic polls, with both parties projecting Marathi unity as the central theme of their campaign.
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