After a hiatus of two decades, Uddhav Thackeray, chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), and Raj Thackeray, president of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), are set to share a public platform at a mega rally in Worli. This marks a significant moment in Maharashtra's political landscape, as the estranged cousins come together for the first time in years. The rally is being organized to celebrate the Maharashtra government's decision to roll back its three-language policy in primary schools, which had sparked protests from the opposition.

The decision by the state government, led by Devendra Fadnavis, to withdraw two Government Resolutions (GRs) on the three-language policy, mandating Hindi as a third language from Class 1, came amidst strong opposition, particularly from Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS. This move was seen as an imposition of Hindi, leading to widespread discontent. The Thackeray cousins, known for their advocacy of Marathi identity, seized the opportunity to unite and celebrate what they termed a victory for Marathi unity.

While the rally is being touted as a non-political event to celebrate Marathi unity, it has inevitably stirred political speculation. The absence of key leaders from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, namely Sharad Pawar and Harshwardhan Sapkal, has raised eyebrows. Sharad Pawar, president of NCP (SP), cited prior commitments in Pune as the reason for his absence, while Supriya Sule and Jitendra Awhad from NCP(SP) are expected to attend. Congress sources indicated that the party's state unit president, Harshwardhan Sapkal, would not participate due to the "inconsistent" political stance of MNS chief Raj Thackeray. Despite Sapkal's absence, the Congress party has expressed its support for the opposition to Hindi as a third language in schools.

The rally is expected to draw a large crowd of supporters from both Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS. In addition to Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray and Amit Thackeray, sons of Uddhav and Raj respectively, are also expected to be present, making it a significant Thackeray family gathering. This public display of unity has fueled speculation about a possible alliance between Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS in the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

The reunion of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray comes at a crucial time for both parties. After a split in the Shiv Sena in 2006, Raj Thackeray formed the MNS. Both parties have since faced electoral turbulence. With the upcoming local body polls on the horizon, both Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS are looking to regain their political footing. A potential alliance could consolidate their support base and pose a stronger challenge to the ruling coalition.

The rally is not just a celebration of Marathi unity but also a strategic move by the Thackeray cousins to reassert their political relevance. By coming together on a public platform after two decades, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray are sending a strong message of unity to their supporters and signaling a potential shift in Maharashtra's political dynamics.