Mumbai, Dec 24 (NationPress) Maharashtra BJP MLA Ram Kadam has sharply criticized the recently formed alliance between the Thackeray cousins, just ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. He asserted that this coalition will not impact the BJP-led Mahayuti and confidently claimed that its banner will continue to soar across Mumbai post-elections.

On Wednesday, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena founder Raj Thackeray officially announced their alliance for the upcoming BMC and Nashik Municipal Corporation elections.

This strategic move is perceived as a vital political shift, aiming to consolidate the Marathi vote bank and present a formidable challenge to the BJP-led Mahayuti.

In response to this development, Kadam brought up the historical conflicts between the two leaders and questioned the sincerity of their reunion.

Speaking to IANS, he remarked, "Two decades ago, on September 27, 2005, Uddhav Thackeray treated Raj Thackeray so poorly that he had no choice but to exit the party. Today, the same Uddhav is seeking his help with a begging bowl. This is what destiny signifies."

Kadam further downplayed the electoral significance of the alliance, arguing that public rallies and emotional appeals will not necessarily translate into votes.

"Although there will be crowds at their rallies, it won’t convert into actual votes. They will make emotional appeals to divide Mumbaikars, but every citizen of Mumbai remembers that during the Covid-19 crisis, Uddhav Thackeray and his government exploited the city," he alleged.

The BJP leader attributed the ongoing development in Mumbai to the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

"All the progress we see in Mumbai today is due to Devendra Fadnavis’s leadership. Uddhav Thackeray and his administration only engaged in the '20 percent commission' scheme. Because of his arbitrary actions, we could not stand tall in Mumbai," Kadam stated.

The alliance between Uddhav and Raj Thackeray is widely regarded as a strategic effort to contest the BJP-led Mahayuti, particularly in Mumbai, where the Marathi voting bloc has remained fragmented since the 2022 division in the Shiv Sena.

By presenting a "united Thackeray family", the two leaders aim to regain the traditional Shiv Sainik support in the civic body elections.

Nonetheless, Kadam expressed strong confidence in Mahayuti’s prospects and reiterated his dismissal of the alliance.

"Despite both brothers uniting for the BMC elections, only the Mahayuti flag will wave across Mumbai and the entire state," he stated.

Challenging the political relevance of the Thackeray surname, the BJP MLA commented, "The Thackeray brand no longer holds weight. It was a brand only during Balasaheb Thackeray's era; now, it is merely a surname. If the 'Thackeray brand' was still significant today, they wouldn’t have lost the municipal elections. There’s no merit in making headlines now."

BJP leader Navneet Rana also criticized the alliance, stating it was formed out of "self-interest" rather than familial bonds.

"I want to highlight that the way Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray are reuniting today may seem appealing, like two brothers coming together, but it is motivated by self-interest, not love or familial ties. This alliance is solely for political gain and to revive their influence. Uddhav Thackeray's party, which once held the strength to form a Chief Minister, now ranks at the bottom in municipal and local body elections, with very few chairpersons elected," she told IANS.

Meanwhile, political analysts describe this collaboration as a "make-or-break" strategy for both parties. The electoral plan aims to merge Raj Thackeray's influence among core Marathi voters—estimated to comprise about 26 percent of Mumbai's electorate—with Uddhav Thackeray's broader support base, which includes Muslim-majority areas, following his more inclusive positioning during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.