Mumbai, Dec 24 (NationPress) The head of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Uddhav Thackeray, along with the founder of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Raj Thackeray, publicly declared a partnership for the forthcoming elections for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Nashik Municipal Corporation on Wednesday. This significant political move aims to unite the Marathi vote bank and confront the BJP-led MahaYuti.

The two cousins arrived at the press conference in a single vehicle, having first paid respects to the Shiv Sena founder, Balasaheb Thackeray, at his memorial in Chhatrapati Shivaji Park, Dadar. This symbolic gesture highlighted their political reconciliation after years of rivalry.

During the joint press event, specifics regarding the civic bodies involved in the alliance and details on seat-sharing for the BMC were not disclosed. Raj Thackeray emphasized that the next Mayor of Mumbai would be a “Marathi Manoos” from their coalition.

Uddhav Thackeray remarked that this alliance was created to safeguard the identity of Mumbai and Maharashtra. “We have united to remain united and to thwart attempts to divide Mumbai or isolate it from Maharashtra,” he stated, encouraging the Marathi Manoos to stay cohesive and resist external pressures.

Raj Thackeray stressed the necessity of this partnership to “protect Maharashtra,” cautioning that “groups are roaming to intimidate children and those who wish to contest elections.”

According to Uddhav Thackeray, anyone who is dedicated to preserving Maharashtra, including like-minded individuals within the BJP, is welcome to support their coalition. He also pointed out that Congress has opted to go solo, reiterating that the UBT-MNS alliance stands independent of that choice.

Raj Thackeray urged the media to back their coalition.

This alliance is perceived as a strategic maneuver to challenge the BJP-led MahaYuti, especially in Mumbai, where the Marathi vote has splintered since the 2022 Shiv Sena split. By presenting a “unified Thackeray family,” both leaders aspire to reclaim the legacy of the Shiv Sainik base.

Political analysts describe this partnership as a “make-or-break” situation for both factions. The electoral strategy seeks to merge Raj Thackeray’s appeal among core Marathi voters—estimated to be around 26 percent of Mumbai’s electorate—with Uddhav Thackeray’s broader support base, which includes Muslim-majority areas, following his more inclusive stance during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Together, this coalition aims to gain control over roughly 113 wards—72 predominantly Marathi and 41 influenced by Muslims—out of the total 227 seats in the BMC.

Having faced substantial setbacks in the 2024 Assembly elections, both factions of the Thackeray family are now fighting for their political survival. This alliance directly contests Eknath Shinde’s assertion of being the legitimate heir to Bal Thackeray’s legacy. For the BJP, which has never had its own Mayor in Mumbai, the post-Sena split scenario was viewed as a rare chance to seize control of the BMC.

However, a united Thackeray front now presents a major challenge to the BJP-Shinde alliance’s ambitious target of “150-plus” seats. For Uddhav Thackeray, this partnership is about protecting his last political stronghold—the BMC. For Raj Thackeray, it provides a pathway back to significance after years of electoral decline.

Both cousins are betting on the enduring influence of the “Thackeray brand” in shaping the political landscape of Mumbai.