MNS chief Raj Thackeray visits Matoshree after years on cousin Uddhav Thackeray's birthday, calls him 'Shiv Sena chief'

MUMBAI/NAGPUR: Amid speculation about an alliance between Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS for the civic polls, Raj Thackeray made a rare visit to Matoshree, Uddhav Thackeray's residence, to wish his "big brother" on his 65th birthday. Uddhav welcomed Raj with a hug, while the latter presented him a bouquet of red roses. After the courtesies, the cousins spoke for close to 20 minutes. Raj also paid tributes to his late uncle Bal Thackeray's memorial chair on the first floor at Matoshree.

Since parting ways with Shiv Sena two decades ago, Raj has visited Matoshree just a couple of times, the last time in 2019 to invite Uddhav to his son's wedding.

In what's seen as a snub to deputy CM and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, Raj later referred to Uddhav as "Shiv Sena chief" on X.

While political observers said the two cousins meeting second time in less than a month is an indication of a political reunion for the local body polls slated for Nov-Dec, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis downplayed it, terming the visit purely personal.

"Raj Thackeray met Uddhav on account of his birthday. I don't think one should see a political angle in everything," said Fadnavis, while speaking to reporters in Nagpur.

Responding to an earlier remark on the possibility of the alliance by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut that "whatever is in the mind of Maharashtra will ultimately happen", Fadnavis said, "I feel there is something only in the mind of certain leaders. Else, what's in the mind of Maharashtra we got to know during [assembly] polls."

Speaking briefly to the media after Raj's visit, Uddhav appeared visibly emotional. "I am very happy. I am overwhelmed...," he said, declining to elaborate.

Later, Raj said in a post on X: "On the occasion of my big brother, Shiv Sena chief, Uddhav Thackeray's birthday, I visited Matoshree, the residence of the late Balasaheb Thackeray, to extend my best wishes." Raj's reference to Uddhav as Shiv Sena chief was also a snub to deputy chief minister Ekanth Shinde, who is president of the Shiv Sena officially recognised by the Election Commission (EC) after the party split.

Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and MLC Ambadas Danve and MNS netas Bala Nandgaonkar and Nitin Sardesai were among those present during Raj's visit to Matoshree, which was decked up with flowers and banners to mark Uddhav's birthday. At midnight, Uddhav cut a cake with wife Rashmi and son Aaditya amid sloganeering in a room packed with Sainiks.

"All together, No problem at all!" Raut said in a post on X, sharing a group photo with Raj and Uddhav.

"Both the brothers did it without saying a word. This is the beginning of the future. This incident united the divided Maharashtra, there cannot be a happier day like today. Therefore, today is a day of joy and inspiration for the Marathi people," Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav said.

Political observers said Raj's visit to Matoshree was a reciprocal step to Uddhav's comments that the two cousins had "come together to be together" during the July 5 'victory rally' in Mumbai after state govt withdrew its decision to introduce Hindi from classes 1 to 5.

"At the July 5 rally itself Uddhav had said that the two cousins have come together to stay together. Later too, Uddhav made it clear that an alliance was on the cards in his interviews and speeches. So, Raj seems to have taken a step forward by visiting him," said a political observer. "Raj going to Matoshree also has sentimental value for Shiv Sainiks; it is a kind of homecoming. In fact, it has more optical and sentimental value than the two cousins coming together at the rally at Worli's NSCI Dome. In the minds of the Sainiks, Matoshree has sanctity and Raj going there is also an acceptance on his part of Uddhav as a big brother and Sena (UBT) president. With this visit, Raj has kept the momentum alive and not let the curiosity of the reunion die down after the Hindi imposition issue."