In a notable event in Maharashtra politics, Uddhav Thackeray, chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), and Raj Thackeray, head of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), reunited after a separation of 20 years, sharing a public platform at the Marathi Vijay Diwas rally in Worli, Mumbai. The reunion saw their sons, Aaditya Thackeray and Amit Thackeray, also sharing the stage, symbolizing a potential coming together of the Thackeray family.
The event celebrated the Maharashtra government's decision to reverse the imposition of the three-language policy in primary schools, which had sparked opposition from both MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT). The policy, which mandated Hindi as a third compulsory language, was seen as a threat to Marathi culture and identity.
Raj Thackeray expressed that his "Maharashtra is above politics and personal differences". He also gave credit to Devendra Fadnavis for making the reunion happen, something that even Balasaheb Thackeray couldn't achieve. Uddhav Thackeray reinforced this sentiment by stating, "we have come together to stay together".
The reunion has sparked speculation about a possible alliance between the two parties, particularly in light of the upcoming BMC elections. Sanjay Raut, a Shiv Sena-UBT leader, hailed the reunion as a festival for Maharashtrians, emphasizing the importance of fighting against those who are against the people of Maharashtra.
During the event, Raj Thackeray criticized the attempt to introduce Hindi as a compulsory language in Maharashtra's schools, emphasizing that while he doesn't consider Hindi a bad language, forcing it on Marathi students is unacceptable. He reminded the crowd that the Maratha empire never imposed Marathi on other regions. Uddhav Thackeray also fiercely attacked those questioning Marathi pride, asserting that if protesting for justice makes Marathi people 'goons', then they are 'goons'.
The event saw both Uddhav and Raj Thackeray addressing the crowd, explaining the choice of Worli as the venue instead of the traditional Shivaji Park in Dadar. Following speeches, Uddhav Thackeray patted Raj on the back, praising his speech as 'mast'. The program concluded with the national anthem, with both leaders calling up party workers and leaders of other parties, along with Aaditya and Amit Thackeray, to stand in support and share the view of Maharashtra to honor Maharashtra's linguistic pride.