Mumbai, Dec 23 (NationPress) In a significant development ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the alliance between the Thackeray cousins — Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena UBT) and Raj Thackeray (MNS) — has been officially confirmed. Party MP Sanjay Raut announced the formation of the "Manomilan" (Union of Hearts), emphasizing that members from both parties have embraced the collaboration and are actively working together on the ground.

Raut stated, "The 'Manomilan' solidified when the two brothers united against the imposition of Hindi as a medium of instruction from grade one in schools throughout Maharashtra. The final details of the seat-sharing agreement were completed last night," he told the media. He mentioned that while the alliance is established, a formal announcement regarding specific seats will be made either later today or on Wednesday.

He revealed that the "Thackeray brothers" have successfully reached a consensus, with an official seat-sharing announcement on the horizon.

"The groundwork for this coalition has been laid, and while coordinating for numerous municipal bodies can be time-consuming, the primary deal is now finalized," Raut reiterated.

“The nomination filing process for the municipal elections has commenced. Our negotiations regarding Nashik, Pune, Kalyan-Dombivli, and Mira-Bhayandar are concluded. Coordinating with multiple corporations takes time, but regarding the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), we must honor the sentiments of both parties' workers. Since alliances necessitate the exchange of certain seats, we are wrapping up those details. Candidate AB forms are already being distributed,” he explained.

Raut further clarified that the question is no longer whether they will collaborate, but how the seats will be allocated. He asserted that there is no internal discord over seat distribution, stating, "We have united from the heart."

He added that the alliance was effectively solidified when Raj and Uddhav Thackeray appeared together in July against the state government's initiative to introduce Hindi along with Marathi and English from grade one, emphasizing that there is no dispute regarding seat-sharing. “Instructions have been given to party members, and there is no ambiguity among the workers regarding the alliance,” he concluded.

Additionally, he noted that discussions are ongoing with Jayant Patil from the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) to coordinate within the Maha Vikas Aghadi framework. While formal talks with Congress are currently "on hold," Raut congratulated them on their recent local body election success. He hinted that the Sena (UBT) remains open to potential collaboration with Congress in the future.

He criticized the Mahayuti partners, questioning, “Why hasn’t the alliance between Eknath Shinde and the BJP been finalized? Why hasn’t the Ajit Pawar and BJP alliance been announced?” In contrast, he stated that the process between Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS is complete.

Meanwhile, an important consensus has been reached in Sewri, where the Thackeray faction (UBT) will contest two seats, while one seat has been designated for the MNS. Although contention remains over Ward No. 114 in Bhandup, sources from Shiv Sena (UBT) indicate that both Uddhav and Raj Thackeray are personally intervening to address the remaining disputes. The overall seat-sharing arrangement for Mumbai is reportedly nearing completion.

Observers note that the reunion of the Thackeray brothers, albeit politically motivated, signifies a pivotal moment in state politics. Historically, the two have operated on opposing ends of the ideological and political spectrum. This strategic alliance seeks to consolidate the Marathi vote bank, presenting a direct challenge to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the BJP.