Uddhav and Raj Thackeray To Share Stage After 20 Years At Mumbai Rally
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray To Share Stage After 20 Years At Mumbai Rally
Mumbai, July 5, 2025: In a dramatic political development, estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray are set to reunite on Saturday after two decades at a “mega victory rally” in Mumbai. The event celebrates the Maharashtra government’s decision to roll back its controversial Hindi language policy for primary schools.
The rally, scheduled for 10 am at the NSCI Dome in Worli, will mark the first time in 20 years that Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj will share a public platform. Political observers see the reunion as a potential signal of a broader realignment in state politics ahead of crucial local body elections.
However, Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders are expected to skip the rally. NCP founder Sharad Pawar and Congress’s Harshavardhan Sapkal reportedly cited strategic concerns over their respective voter bases. Congress sources admitted that participating in the Marathi-focused rally could alienate their non-Marathi electorate in Mumbai, despite their opposition to the Hindi language policy.
The rally will feature participation from Marathi literary figures, educators, poets, and artists under the banner ‘Marathicha Awaaz’.
The controversy stemmed from the Maharashtra education department’s resolution on April 17, making Hindi a mandatory third language in Classes 1 to 5 under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Following widespread protests and political pushback, the state government on June 18 modified its stance, allowing students to choose other Indian languages if at least 20 students in a class made such a request. Eventually, on June 24, the government scrapped the policy altogether, setting up a committee headed by educationist Dr Narendra Jadhav to review language options for students.
While the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS hailed the rollback as a victory for Marathi identity, CM Devendra Fadnavis defended the government’s position, insisting that the revised policy would be reviewed to ensure inclusivity.
The reunion of the Thackeray cousins—long considered rivals—has generated considerable buzz in Maharashtra’s political circles. Analysts say this could pave the way for a tactical understanding between their parties for the upcoming civic elections.
