‘Can back even Trump for Maharashtra’s interest,’ says Raj Thackeray

Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS president Raj Thackeray

• Raj Thackeray: Political flexibility won't dilute Marathi-centric ideology
• MNS-Shiv Sena unity is focused only on Marathi issues, not broader alliances
• Thackeray slams Centre for not funding Marathi despite its classical status

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Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has said that adapting politically should not be mistaken for diluting ideological commitments, asserting that every decision he takes is guided by one overriding priority -- a strong Maharashtra rooted in Marathi identity.

In an interview with NDTV on Saturday, Thackeray said political alignments or personalities matter far less to him than the interests of the state. Making his point emphatically, he said he would be willing to support even US President Donald Trump if that helped Maharashtra’s cause.

“Flexibility in political approach does not mean a compromise on ideology,” he said, underlining that his ideological compass remains unchanged despite shifting political circumstances.

Thackeray, who has recently come together with his estranged cousin and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) president Uddhav Thackeray ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, clarified that their convergence has a sharply defined purpose. According to him, the coming together is focused solely on Marathi issues and should not be interpreted as a broader political realignment.

“The unity is only on Marathi,” he said, cautioning against assumptions that the understanding would automatically lead to alliances at the state or national level. Electoral tie-ups, he stressed, are “a completely different issue”.

Explaining his political philosophy, the MNS chief used an analogy to justify tactical flexibility. He said that if water needs to reach a particular place, any method can be adopted as long as the aim remains unambiguous. What matters, he explained, is that the objective is “clear and pure”.

For Thackeray, that objective revolves around the welfare of Marathi people, the protection of the Marathi language, and ensuring Maharashtra’s strength and dignity. He said these concerns have always taken precedence over electoral calculations and personal political gain.

The MNS chief also took aim at the Centre over its decision to accord classical language status to Marathi, questioning the seriousness of the move. He said the announcement had not been backed by any financial commitment.

“Despite the status, not a single rupee has been allotted for Marathi,” he said, adding that while Marathi continues to struggle for resources, substantial funding is being extended to Sanskrit. A language, he argued, cannot survive or grow without consistent financial support.

On the issue of political losses, Thackeray made it clear that he was prepared to accept electoral setbacks rather than dilute his stand on Marathi identity. “I will continue to take a hard line on Marathi identity even if it meant losing elections,” he said.

He described this position not as a political strategy but as a belief system shaped by his upbringing and family legacy. The values instilled in him by his uncle and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, as well as by his father and grandfather, he said, continue to guide his thinking.

Calling himself “extremely Marathi”, Raj Thackeray said there would be no retreat on issues related to language and identity. Political labels and ideological tags, he insisted, are secondary when weighed against the long-term interests of Maharashtra and its people.