Mumbai: Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray, on the occasion of the party’s 59th Foundation Day on Thursday, launched a fierce attack on the BJP and Maharashtra’s ruling coalition, hinting at a possible alliance with his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to ensure Marathi unity and reclaim Mumbai.
While Thackeray did not name the MNS directly, his speech strongly suggested efforts towards a broader Marathi consolidation. “If we stand united today to preserve Mumbai’s importance, we can stop this onslaught. Will that happen? I will do what is in your heart and in the heart of the state,” he said, signalling openness to a reunion of the Thackeray cousins.
Thackeray Accuses BJP Of Sabotaging Potential Alliance
Thackeray accused the BJP and its allies of working behind closed doors to sabotage this potential alliance. In a veiled swipe at CM Devendra Fadnavis’ recent meeting with Raj Thackeray at Bandra's Taj Lands End, he said, “Servants are working and holding meetings in hotels.”
Reaffirming that his party is election-ready, Thackeray stated, “They fear for Adani if we win Mumbai. That’s why they’re trying to divide Marathi people. But we will reclaim Mumbai at any cost.”
Thackeray didn’t spare Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, referring to the rival Sena faction’s Foundation Day event as 'a gathering of thieves' and mocking Shinde for lacking political heirs. He criticised the BJP for embracing defectors, referencing Sudhakar Badgujar, once linked to underworld figure Salim Kutta. “Are you setting up stalls outside jails? Will Dawood be next?” he quipped.
Thackeray's Attack On PM Modi-Amit Shah
Targeting Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Thackeray said, “India needs a PM for the country, not just the BJP. Are you home ministers or home-breakers?”
The address sets the stage for a high-stakes political showdown ahead of the BMC elections, with the possibility of a Sena UBT-MNS alliance reshaping Mumbai’s electoral battlefield.
