Estranged Thackrey cousins reunite, share stage for first time in 20 years for Maha Rally

PTC News Desk: The estranged thackrey brothers after being separated politically for 20 years, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray reunited today at a public rally in Mumbai. The event titled 'Awaj Marathicha' (Voice of the Marathi), has been jointly organised by Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), marking the first time since 2005 that the two estranged leaders will share a stage.

Uddhav Thackeray' Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) are known for aggressive push to Marathi language and identity. Maharashtra government's move to mandate Hindi as third-language policy in primary schools is believed to have triggered this show of unity. 

"What Bal Thackeray could not do, what many others could not do, Devendra Fadnavis did  - bring us together," said Raj Thackeray on stage. "You may have power in the Vidhan Bhawan, we have power on the roads." 

Both Uddhav and Raj had strongly opposed the proposal, and the rally is being positioned as a "victory" for Marathi linguistic identity.

"Where did you get this three-language formula from? This came only from the central government. Today, in the High Court and the Supreme Court, everything is in English. It is not there in any other state. Why only in Maharashtra? When Maharashtra awakens, you see what happens," he said. 

The duo was last seen during the Malvan Assembly by-election campaign in 2005. Shortly after the campaign, Raj Thackrey resigned from the party his uncle had founded. "All I had asked for was respect. All I got was insult and humiliation," he said.