Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his estranged cousin, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj joined hands for the upcoming civic body polls in Mumbai, scheduled to be held next month. Burying the hatchet, the estranged Thackeray cousins reunited after nearly two decades.
The cousins formally announced the alliance of their parties for the local body elections in Mumbai at a joint press conference on Wednesday, putting to rest months of speculation. The alliance is expected to significantly reshape Maharashtra's political landscape, and the development is also likely to mark a turning point in the state's politics.
'Mumbai will get a Marathi mayor'
Addressing a joint news conference, Raj said, "I officially announce that Shiv Sena and MNS are alliance partners." He also exuded confidence that Mumbai will get a Marathi mayor, and that person will be from the Sena-MNS alliance. Uddhav, sitting next to him, doubled down on his assertion and said, "Mumbai will stay with us, come what may." He said that the two parties have come together to stay together.
“Those who can’t bear to see what is happening in the BJP can also come with us,” Uddhav further said, appealing to the leaders of the BJP-led Mahayuti government to join hands with them.
Seat-sharing formula not announced
The Thackeray brothers did not divulge the details of the seat-sharing formula between the two parties for the crucial BMC elections. Uddhav, however, said they have finalsied the seat-sharing deal for the Nashik Municipal Corporation. He further said that the discussion for the seat-sharing arrangements between the two parties in other civic bodies is underway.
The elections for 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will be held in a single phase on January 15, and the counting of votes will take place on January 16.
How CM Fadnavis reacted
Taking a potshot at the alliance between the parties of Thackeray cousins, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that their reunion is being given so much attention as if Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr have come together. He said that people of Mumbai don't trust Uddhav and Raj anymore and accused the duo of engaging in appeasement politics.
"These two have lost the trust of the people of Mumbai and have been engaging in appeasement politics. The public will not accept them anymore," Fadnavis, who is also a senior BJP leader, said.
He asserted that the ruling coalition's candidate will become the mayor of Mumbai. "The Mahayuti (grand alliance) had and will always have the trust of Mumbai and Maharashtra. Our candidate will become the mayor. Devendra Fadnavis is a Hindu by birth and will fight for Hindus throughout his life. We are not opportunists who wear the mantle of Hinduism only when elections are around the corner."
