Mumbai, Dec 24 (NationPress) In a significant political maneuver, the Thackeray brothers, Uddhav Thackeray, the leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), and Raj Thackeray, president of MNS, have officially united to contest the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. This alliance has drawn criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The BJP has characterized this coalition as a desperate effort by the Thackeray cousins to cling to power in the BMC elections, which are scheduled for next month and involve the wealthiest municipal corporation in India.

In a statement to IANS, BJP MLA Mihir Kotecha remarked, "This is merely a desperate attempt to maintain their hold on power, and the citizens of Mumbai have become aware of this. The recent outcomes of the Nagar Palika and Nagar Parishad elections already reflect the public sentiment; Mahayuti secured over 70 percent of the seats."

He further commented, "This is a desperate attempt for the Thackeray duo to remain relevant."

Kotecha expressed confidence that the people of Mumbai would recognize their ploy and opportunism, ultimately supporting the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which aims for comprehensive development throughout the state.

Conversely, the atmosphere within the Shiv Sena camp is optimistic and spirited, as the reunion of the two Thackerays, who are the son and nephew of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, has invigorated supporters from both parties.

Sanjay Raut, a leader of SS (UBT), labeled this reunion as a historic moment, asserting that the considerable public support and enthusiasm will be evident in the forthcoming elections.

Raut went on to claim that the allied parties would strive to unseat the Mahayuti and eliminate the rampant corruption within the BMC.

"Corruption is the primary issue. Over the last four years, the BJP and Eknath Shinde have exploited the BMC and Mumbai through their administrators," he stated.

The alliance of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray has rekindled hopes for a strong performance in the upcoming elections. However, their allies from the MahaVikas Aghadi (MVA)—Congress and NCP (SP)—are reportedly reassessing their electoral strategies.

While Congress has been cautious about its ties with this newly-formed alliance, it does see potential political benefits in the Thackeray cousins' collaboration.

The venerable party has hinted at the possibility of distancing itself from SS (UBT) and opting out of the troubled MVA for the elections, expressing concerns regarding MNS's tactics of "bullying and harassing" outsiders.