Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut announced on Friday that Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) will unite to contest the upcoming civic elections in Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, and Kalyan-Dombivali. This alliance aims to consolidate the Marathi-speaking population. Raut mentioned that discussions are in progress with MNS to formalize the alliance.

Raut stated that Uddhav and Raj Thackeray would contest the municipal corporation elections together in Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, and Kalyan-Dombivali, with the goal of winning. He emphasized that the strength of Raj and Uddhav Thackeray lies in the unity of Marathi speakers, suggesting that no force can break their collective power. He added that discussions with the MNS are ongoing to form an alliance.

BJP leaders have dismissed Raut's statement, with some questioning whether the Thackeray cousins have even spoken to each other. Pravin Darekar, a BJP legislator, suggested that Raut's announcement might be mere guesswork. Other BJP leaders accused Sena (UBT) of only remembering Marathi voters as elections approach. Girish Mahajan, a Maharashtra minister and BJP leader, pointed out that the BJP received significant support from Marathi voters in the previous assembly elections, implying that attempts to mislead them would not succeed.

Sena UBT believes that this alliance could revitalize their organizational presence in Mumbai, Thane, and Nashik, where both parties have historically garnered substantial Marathi support. For Sena UBT, winning the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) would mean retaining its stronghold and control over Mumbai. Additionally, winning the Thane Municipal Corporation would be a symbolic victory against Eknath Shinde, whose political career began in Thane and who currently dominates the corporation.

Notably, the two parties have already collaborated for the August 18 election to the BEST Employees Co-operative Credit Society in Mumbai. In this election, the Sena (UBT)-affiliated BEST Kamgar Sena and the MNS-affiliated BEST Kamgar Sena are jointly contesting against a BJP-backed panel.

Last month, Uddhav Thackeray expressed his willingness to speak directly with his cousin Raj regarding various issues, including the upcoming municipal elections and matters concerning the Marathi language.