Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray are now one. The people of Uddhav’s Shiv Sena and Raj’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena are now one. The reason for this is that election of BMC, in which about Rs 74 thousand crores are at stake on the victory of the two brothers who have political ambitions because this is the annual budget of BMC. The news of the union of the two brothers has made headlines not only in Maharashtra but also in the country and abroad. But similar headlines were also included on the front pages of newspapers, cover stories of magazines and in every debate on TV channels about 20 years ago when Raj Thackeray had announced his separation from Shiv Sena and formation of MNS.

The real story of the rift between Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray!

Even then this news was presented only as a political ambition of Raj Thackeray, which was an incomplete truth. Because in all truth it was the name of that important character of the family, without naming whom Raj Thackeray had told everything. After all, what was the real story of the gap that developed between Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray, who was the character who played an important role in separating the two brothers and how this gap that developed in the family was first filled within the family itself, which brought both the brothers together on one platform?

Raj Thackeray left Shiv Sena on 27 November 2005

On 27 November 2005, thousands of people gathered outside Raj Thackeray’s house. Raj Thackeray grabbed the mike and said, “My quarrel is not with my Vitthal but with the priests around him. There are some people who do not understand the ABC of politics. That is why I am resigning from the post of Shiv Sena leader. Balasaheb Thackeray was, is and will be my God.”

Then another date came, 18 December 2005. 36 year old Raj Thackeray was holding a press conference at Shivaji Park Gymkhana. He said, “I had only asked for respect, but all I got in return was contempt and insult.” With this statement, Raj Thackeray ended his relations with Shiv Sena formed by Bal Thackeray and started on the path of forming a new party.

But this different path had started from the same date on which Raj Thackeray had entered politics. That was the year 1989, when Raj Thackeray started taking interest in Shiv Sena politics. In the same year, he was made the president of Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the youth wing of Shiv Sena. But this was also the same year when a daughter-in-law came to Bal Thackeray’s house.

Rashmi Thackeray used to be Rashmi Patankar

Uddhav Thackeray’s wife Rashmi Thackeray was once Rashmi Patankar. Used to work on contract in LIC. Raj Thackeray’s family also played an important role in changing Rashmi from Rashmi Patankar to Rashmi Thackeray. Because another girl from the Thackeray family worked in LIC, her name was Jaywanti Thackeray.

How did Jaywanti and Rashmi Patankar become friends?

Jaywanti was the daughter of Bala Saheb Thackeray’s elder brother Shrikant Thackeray and real sister of Raj Thackeray. Jaywanti and Rashmi became friends while working. Coming and going home also happened. During this time, Jaywanti introduced her friend Rashmi to her cousin Uddhav Thackeray, who used to be a photographer at that time. Used to run his own advertising agency. Their friendship blossomed and on 13 December 1989, Uddhav Thackeray married Rashmi Patankar.

There was a lot going on inside the family!

Time passed. Raj Thackeray remained active in politics and Uddhav Thackeray remained busy in his photography and advertising agency. Bal Thackeray was undoubtedly present at the top of the family. There was no visible problem anywhere. But all this was superficial only. There were a lot of things going on inside the family, news of which had started coming out but no one was talking about it. There were some valid reasons for this, to understand which you will have to understand Bal Thackeray and his entire family.

Know Bal Thackeray’s family

Bal Thackeray had a total of two brothers and 6 sisters. Right now we talk only about two brothers. Of Bal Thackeray and his brother Shrikant Thackeray. Shrikant Thackeray has two sons Raj Thackeray and Ramesh Thackeray. Raj Thackeray’s wife’s name is Sharmila Thackeray. Bal Thackeray’s sons are Bindu Madhav, Jaidev and Uddhav. Bindu Madhav died in a road accident on 20 April 1996. His wife Madhavi Thackeray, who had no interest in politics. Jaidev’s wife’s name is Smita Thackeray, who earlier used to interfere in family and politics. Jaidev never got along well with his family and especially with Bal Thackeray, so he separated. Jaidev also separated from his wife. But wife Smita Thackeray lived in Matoshree only.

The matter of the house is out!

When Bal Thackeray’s wife Meenatai died in September 1995, Rashmi Thackeray took up the responsibility of taking care of Bal Thackeray. During that time, Smita Thackeray was doing well in Shiv Sena and she used to interfere in the party too. Between 1995 and 1999, Shiv Sena was in power in Maharashtra, at that time Smita Thackeray was in control of the government. Raj Thackeray’s wife Sharmila Thackeray was also coming in the way of Rashmi Thackeray. Everyone inside the house was aware that Rashmi does not get along with Sharmila or Smita. But this thing could not come out of the house. At last the day came when the matter of the house came out.

That date was 30 January 2003. On that day there was a Shiv Sena convention in Mahabaleshwar. Along with Bal Thackeray, Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray were also present on the stage. Shiv Sainiks started considering Raj Thackeray as the natural successor, because Raj had been working with Bal Thackeray for more than a decade. At the same time, some people considered Bal Thackeray’s son Uddhav as his successor, because Uddhav was a son. However, when BMC elections were held in the year 2002, the entire responsibility of that election campaign was with Uddhav Thackeray, who stopped working in his ad agency, kept the photography camera in the cupboard and started learning the tricks of politics with his father Bala Saheb.

How did Uddhav Thackeray’s interest in politics arise?

Family members say that Uddhav’s interest in politics was aroused by his wife Rashmi Thackeray, who by then had achieved a different position in the family by dedicating herself to Bala Saheb’s care after his ill health. Uddhav Thackeray, who entered politics on the wish of his wife, was decided by his father Bal Thackeray to make him the working president of Shiv Sena on 30 January 2003. To ensure that there is no rebellion in the party, Bal Thackeray asked Raj Thackeray to declare Uddhav as the working president of the party. Same thing happened also. Raj Thackeray proposed Uddhav’s name, which was unanimously accepted.

When Raj Thackeray accepted the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray

However, Raj Thackeray was also given a place in the National Executive Committee which was announced after that meeting. Apart from Bal Thackeray, the then Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Narayan Rane, Sudhir Joshi, Madhukar Sarpotdar, Liladhar Dake, Subhash Desai, Satish Pradhan, Dattaji Nalwade, Pramod Navalkar and Diwakar Raote along with cousins ​​Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray were also given place in that National Executive. At that time Raj Thackeray had no other option. Even under compulsion, he too had to accept the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray.

But everything changed on November 27, 2005. Raj Thackeray announced to leave the party that day. In the presence of thousands of supporters, Raj Thackeray gave an emotional speech and said, “There are some people who do not understand the ABC of politics. That is why I am resigning from the post of Shiv Sena leader.”

After this, December 15, 2005 was the date when Raj Thackeray met Bal Thackeray. But the matter did not work out and Raj Thackeray said something in his press conference on December 18, which brought out the family feud more than the party.

Raj Thackeray said, “I had only asked for respect, but in return I got only contempt and insult.” Raj Thackeray did not take anyone’s name in his statement, but the indication was clear that all was not well within the family, the party was an afterthought.

Raj Thackeray formed his party on 9 March 2006

After this, on March 9, 2006, Raj Thackeray formed his new party in Shivaji Park and named it Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. This party, formed in the name of Marathi Manush, got partial success in the beginning, but gradually Raj Thackeray and his party started weakening in the politics of Maharashtra.

Before the municipal elections including BMC in Maharashtra, the alliance between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray has created a new stir in the politics of the state. Now the reaction of Deputy CM Eknath Shinde has also come out regarding this alliance. He has said that this alliance has been made not for the people of Mumbai but for the chair.

Ahead of the elections, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde said, “Mahayuti is strong and we have a clear agenda of development, but today some people have come together just for the agenda of the chair. They have nothing to do with Mumbaikars.”

Congress- Uddhav group workers join Shiv Sena

In fact, on Wednesday (December 24), hundreds of Shiv Sena UBT and Congress officials and workers from Nashik and Kolhapur districts joined Shiv Sena in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Shinde. On this occasion, Eknath Shinde, while targeting the Uddhav Thackeray group, said that some alliances are in the interest of the public and the state, while some are done for selfishness, power and survival. No matter who has alliance with anyone, Mahayuti is strong in Maharashtra.

‘The public showed them their place’

He further said, “Mahayuti has won both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. In the city councils, Shiv Sena alone has elected the maximum number of city presidents as compared to the three parties of Mahavikas Aghadi. The people of Maharashtra have shown their place in three and a half years to those who left Balasaheb’s ideas.”

‘Mumbai is considered a hen that lays golden eggs’

Deputy Chief Minister Shinde also said, “Till now, Mumbai was considered a hen that lays golden eggs. Earlier they kept eating the eggs and now they have come together to slaughter the hen. In today’s press conference, they did not say even a word on the development of Mumbai. Mahayuti has an agenda of development, whereas they have an agenda of power and chair. They have gathered to get power and save the chair.”

Before the BMC elections, an alliance was formed between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray but the number of seats was not announced. On this, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said that number sharing is business in politics. Here there is no business between brothers, this is family. We will see what we have to do.

What did you say about Congress?

Regarding Congress, he said, “We have requested Congress many times that if BJP has to defeat us then it will have to come together.”

#WATCH Mumbai, Maharashtra: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said on the alliance of Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS ahead of the municipal elections, “Number sharing is business in politics. There is no business among brothers here. It is family… We have requested Congress many times that if we have to defeat BJP… pic.twitter.com/a89ET6Zy2P

— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) December 24, 2025

The speculations that had been going on for several months came to an end

It is noteworthy that putting an end to the speculations that had been going on for months, both the brothers announced the alliance. In a joint press conference with Raj Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray said that the two parties have come together to live together. Both of them said that they have united for the interest of ‘Marathi Manush’ and Maharashtra. Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray are cousins.

Uddhav said that his grandfather Prabodhankar Thackeray was a social reformer and writer. He was a prominent figure in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement and his father Bal Thackeray and uncle Shrikant, who was the father of Raj Thackeray, also played important roles in this movement. All of them contributed significantly in ensuring that Mumbai remained a part of the state. However, Raj Thackeray did not share the detailed information about seat sharing between the two parties in the BMC elections.

Mumbai mayor will be Marathi and will be ours – Raj Thackeray

Raj Thackeray said, “Mumbai’s mayor will be Marathi and he will be ours.” Uddhav said both parties have finalized the seat sharing for Nashik Municipal Corporation, where elections are to be held on January 15, as well as in Mumbai and 27 other municipal corporations in the state. Uddhav Thackeray said, “Those who cannot tolerate what is happening in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) can join us.”

The alliance between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray is almost finalized before the BMC elections 2026. It was learned from sources that Thackeray brothers are going to announce their coming together through a press conference on Wednesday, 24th December. However, now there is talk of putting brakes on this alliance by Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), due to which the political temperature has become high in the opposition alliance party.

In fact, MNS’s stance is that the alliance should not be announced until seat sharing is complete and a final decision is taken from both sides.

Talks on seats are still going on

Actually, MNS soldiers are curious about when the alliance between Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena UBT and Raj Thackeray’s MNS will be announced. However, since the final talks on seat sharing are still going on and consensus has not yet been reached on some seats, there is talk of some delay in the announcement of the alliance.

Alliance should be announced only after resolving differences- MNS

Sources say that talks are still going on between the two sides on some seats. Wherever there are differences, efforts are being made to resolve them. Therefore, MNS has taken the stand that the alliance will not be announced until these differences are resolved.

Where is the disagreement between the Thackeray brothers?

According to the information received so far through sources, discussion is going on in MVA on Amrathi departments of Mumbai. Talks are going on as to what should be done in the Amrathi departments of Mumbai like Ghatkopar, Kandivali, Borivali, Mulund. At the same time, till now Raj Thackeray’s MNS has been given 65-70 seats. At the same time, Uddhav Thackeray is expected to have 145 to 150 seats. Apart from this, Sharad Pawar’s NCP SP may get 10-12 seats.

Political activities have intensified regarding BMC elections in Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra. Meanwhile, on Sunday (November 23), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray warned Marathi speaking people. He said that if Marathi speaking people are not cautious then the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections may prove to be the last elections for them.

While addressing the inaugural ceremony of MNS Konkan Mahotsav here, Raj Thackeray appealed to the party workers to remain alert. In a brief message, the MNS chief said, “Maintain your vigilance, otherwise loss is certain. If you are not alert, the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election will be the last election for Marathi people. And its consequences will be far-reaching.”

He said that once Mumbai is out of our hands, we will not be able to do anything. If Mumbai goes out of our hands, these people will create havoc, Raj Thackeray attacked the ruling parties without naming them. Raj Thackeray had raised the issue of discrepancies in the voter list and had recently participated in a joint march taken out by the opposition.

‘Keep an eye on the voter list’

Raj Thackeray also said that do not be careless, check the voter list, keep an eye on your surroundings. The way politics is going, keep an eye on the voter list. It is important to keep your attention on whether the voter is real or fake. He also said that the upcoming Mumbai Municipal Corporation election will be the last election of the Marathi people. Raj Thackeray said, if we remain careless then it will go out of our hands.

Claim of irregularities in voter list

Local body elections are currently going on in the state, and municipal elections are likely to be held immediately after the City Council and Nagar Panchayat elections. Meanwhile, the opposition is continuously making serious allegations against the Election Commission, claiming that there are irregularities in the voter list.

Before the civic elections in Maharashtra, especially BMC elections, Congress has announced that the party will contest the elections alone on its own. That is, Congress wants to separate from the opposition alliance Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) and enter the electoral fray. The reason for this is the coming together of the Thackeray brothers and especially the displeasure with Raj Thackeray. However, Congress has no rift with Sharad Pawar. In such a situation, will Sharad Pawar also have to bear the loss of resentment from Thackeray brothers?

Amidst all these questions, on the morning of Wednesday, November 19, a picture emerged which has intensified the stir in the political circles of Maharashtra. In fact, regarding the BMC elections, a delegation of Mumbai Congress reached NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s residence Silver Oak to meet him.

In this Congress delegation led by Varsha Gaikwad, Amin Patel, Aslam Shaikh and Jyoti Gaikwad reached Sharad Pawar’s residence. It is believed that this meeting has taken place to discuss the strategies of the alliance before the upcoming local body elections.

Congress does not want an alliance between Sharad Pawar and Thackeray brothers?

It is being speculated that there could be many angles to this meeting between senior Congress leaders and Sharad Pawar. First of all, Congress is trying to ensure that Sharad Pawar’s NCP stays in alliance with them on some seats and does not make alliance with Uddhav-Raj Thackeray.

Congress does not want that without it the MVA alliance will now become an alliance of Uddhav-Raj and Sharad Pawar. In such a situation, Congress will try to ensure that Sharad Pawar also breaks the alliance with Uddhav Thackeray.

Will Congress compromise on the decision to fight alone?

Now the question arises that when Congress has already announced on several occasions that it has to field candidates on all the seats in the civic elections on its own, then why does it now want to meet Sharad Pawar and form an alliance? Will Congress withdraw its decision to fight alone?

Will Sharad Pawar also leave Uddhav Thackeray?

Due to the meeting of Congress leaders and Sharad Pawar, it is also being speculated that NCP-SP can now decide on the strategy for the civic elections with Congress. It is certain that Congress will not contest the elections with Uddhav Thackeray. In such a situation, will Sharad Pawar also leave the Thackeray brothers?

Answers to all these questions can be found only after the official statement of senior party leaders, but till now neither Uddhav Thackeray-Raj Thackeray, nor Sharad Pawar nor any Congress leader has made any statement regarding the status of MVA. In such a situation, the situation of the opposition alliance party is in confusion.

The political temperature in Maharashtra has become high regarding the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections (BMC Election) and all the political parties have started preparations to make their place. There has also been news of the Thackeray brothers coming together before the BMC elections. It is believed that Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray are going to contest the elections together with each other this time. However, Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) ally Congress had clearly opposed it.

In such a situation, the question now arises whether Raj Thackeray will be allowed to contest elections by joining Mahavikas Aghadi? However, now it has been clearly stated by the Congress that the Congress will contest the Municipal Corporation elections on its own. This means that the opposition coalition party MVA will break.

Vijay Wadettiwar’s claim – Congress will contest elections alone

This has been announced by senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar. Vijay Wadettiwar said that the world’s largest municipal corporation is Mumbai. Our Mumbai Municipal Corporation leaders have decided that we will fight independently. Therefore, the question does not arise as to how many seats have to be left for whom. Wadettiwar has been clearly told that this decision has been taken at the local level after discussion with the Congress high command.

Maharashtra Congress has decided not to form an alliance with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) amid the Bihar election atmosphere. This decision was taken in the meeting of senior Congress leaders, which was presided over by state president Harshvardhan Sapkal. This meeting was held on Tuesday (4 November) at Tilak Bhawan. Sources gave this information.

Congress is ready to form an alliance with the parties which are part of the INDIA alliance. But Congress leaders have made it clear that no alliance will be made with MNS. Information about this decision will soon be given to the Delhi High Command.

Associating with MNS is harmful!

Congress leaders believe that associating with a party like MNS, which openly takes a stand against North Indians and minorities, can prove to be harmful for the party. Especially during Bihar elections.

Raj Thackeray seen standing with MVA

However, recently MNS chief Raj Thackeray had adopted an aggressive stance against the ruling party and the Election Commission along with Maha Vikas Aghadi on issues like alleged vote rigging and lack of transparency. Nevertheless, Congress has decided to maintain this distance. Apart from Congress, Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra includes Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP).

In the recent past, the closing distance between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray has given rise to a new discussion in Maharashtra. The discussions about political alliance between the two parties have also gained momentum. However, no formal announcement has been made yet. Now, in such a situation, it will be interesting to see what reaction the Uddhav Thackeray group has on this stand of Congress. If sources are to be believed, the Uddhav Thackeray group is adopting a positive stance regarding alliance with Raj Thackeray in the upcoming BMC elections.

On one hand, there seems to be a rift in the India alliance amid Bihar elections. Due to lack of consensus on seats, Hemant Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has decided to separate from the alliance and fight alone. It is believed that this may also affect the India alliance in Jharkhand. At the same time, now in the third state i.e. Maharashtra also the opposition alliance seems to be fading.

On one hand, Uddhav Thackeray is trying to include his brother Raj Thackeray in Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA), while on the other hand, Congress is planning to end this alliance. In fact, before the Maharashtra civic elections, Congress leader Bhai Jagtap has announced that the party can contest alone.

‘There will be no alliance with Uddhav Thackeray’- Bhai Jagtap

Congress leader Bhai Jagtap has also given a big statement. Talking to ABP News, he said that Congress will not join hands with Raj Thackeray and will not contest elections in alliance with Uddhav Thackeray. Bhai Jagtap has clearly said – “You are not going with Uddhav Thackeray. Forget about Raj Thackeray.”

‘Congress will not go with Raj Thackeray at all’- Varsha Gaikwad

Apart from this, amid speculations about Raj Thackeray joining Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA), Mumbai Congress President Varsha Gaikwad, without taking the name of Raj Thackeray’s party, said, “We will not go with those who do not believe in the Constitution and the law.”

Varsha Gaikwad further said, “Crackers are being burst in Diwali but some people are trying to burst crackers in politics but the crackers turned out to be chaff. We are ready to burst bombs and people will support it.” Regarding Raj Thackeray, the Congress leader said that we will not go with those who do not believe in the Constitution of the country.

In Mumbai, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray on Sunday (October 12) visited Matoshree, the residence of his cousin and Shiv Sena (Ubhata) chief Uddhav Thackeray. This is the second time in a week that Raj Thackeray has reached Matoshree.

When asked by journalists about the purpose of this meeting, Raj Thackeray said, ‘My mother is with me.’ He was indicating that this is a family reunion. However, this meeting comes amid speculations about the two cousins ​​coming together for the important Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

Also met at Sanjay Raut’s family function

Raj Thackeray had also visited Matoshree last Sunday after attending a function of Shiv Sena (Ubhatha) leader Sanjay Raut’s family. The two cousins, who were once estranged from each other, seem to be reconciling after their defeat in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Last time Uddhav Thackeray had gone to meet Raj Thackeray at Shivtirtha Niwas, but at that time he was alone. On Sunday, Raj Thackeray along with his family reached Uddhav Thackeray’s Matoshree residence. This makes it clear that the relationship between Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray is getting stronger.

Meanwhile, discussions are going on about the MNS-Thackeray Sena alliance for the elections of local self-rule institutions. Now the closeness between these two brothers, who were separated for many years, is increasing and there is talk of a direct political alliance. But Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS have not yet announced the alliance for the BMC elections, although their leaders have confirmed that this alliance is going to happen.

When were the Thackeray brothers seen together?

1. 5 July 2025 – Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray were seen on the same stage in the Marathi language Vijay Melawa.

2. 27 July 2025 – After the Marathi language fair, the closeness between the two increased and Raj Thackeray reached Matoshree Niwas on the birthday of Uddhav Thackeray.

3. 27 August 2025 – The discussion of this meeting started gaining momentum in politics and after almost two decades, Uddhav Thackeray reached Raj Thackeray’s Shivtirtha residence on the occasion of Ganeshotsav.

4. 10 September 2025 – The auspicious time of Ganeshotsav became the reason for this meeting, but the conversation remained incomplete. After this, in the month of September, Uddhav Thackeray again reached Shivtirth Niwas with his family.

5. October 5, 2025 – Will the Thackeray brothers, who came together on July 5, now form an alliance in the Local Swarajya Sanstha and Municipality elections? Amidst this discussion, for the fifth time in three months, the Thackeray brothers today appeared together with their family at the naming ceremony of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut’s grandson.

6. 12 October 2025 – Raj Thackeray along with his mother attended the Snehbhojan program at Matoshree along with Uddhav Thackeray.