All eyes on Uddhav and Raj Thackeray as they share stage after two decades

The last time the two cousins shared the stage was in 2005

In a significant political moment, estranged cousins Raj and Uddhav Thackeray will come together for a joint rally in Worli today – two decades after their fallout over a leadership rift. The two leaders will share public stage and jointly hold a “mega victory gathering”, celebrating the Maharashtra government’s decision to withdraw the three-language policy in primary schools.

This rare show of unity between Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has sparked buzz over a possible new political equation in Maharashtra’s fluid political landscape – especially as it comes just ahead of the local body polls, including the cash rich Mumbai civic corporation.

The last time the two cousins shared the stage was in 2005 during the election campaign of Malvan assembly bypoll after former chief minister Narayan Rane had quit the undivided Shiv Sena. In the same year, Raj Thackeray exited the Shiv Sena and founded the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in 2006.

NCP founder Sharad Pawar will not attend the joint rally held by the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) due to prior commitments. The Congress, meanwhile, has reportedly opted out of Thackeray brothers’ rally – citing potential fallout among its non-Marathi supporters ahead of the BMC polls despite its opposition to the state’s Hindi language push.

The gathering, set to take place at 10 am at Worli’s NSCI Dome, will feature notable participants from across disciplines—ranging from Marathi language supporters to writers, poets, educators, editors, and artists.

A united stand against the three-language formula became the driving force behind the Thackeray brothers’ reunion -- compelling the Mahayuti government to roll back the policy.

The BJP-led Mahayuti government had issued a government resolution (GR) in April, making Hindi a compulsory third language for students in Classes 1 to 5 studying in English and Marathi medium schools. Amid a backlash, the government issued an amended GR on June 17 making Hindi an optional language.

The move was criticised by the Opposition parties -- Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS, and NCP (SP)- which dubbed it the "imposition" of Hindi on Maharashtra.

Amid growing political pressure, the resolutions backing the three-language policy in schools was withdrawn by the state government.