While reiterating that he will do what is “in the mind of the people of Maharastra and the Sena Cadre”, uddhav Said thursday, “We are capable of resolving the is thesues between us, lying not.”

Referring to the meeting between his cousin and the cm, uddhav accused the bjp of attempting to “Thwart the reunion of the two brothers” Since it knees the Possible “Repercussions” of Such and Such Allion Ferianm. Municipal Corporation (BMC) Polls.

Over the past two months, Since Raj sent the first signal of rapprochement to uddhav on april 19, Several Sena (UBT) leders, his son aaditya, and rajya saba mp saba raut, his son aaditya consistently expressed their willingness to ally with the mns.

Sena (ubt) ‘s consistent outreach

Projecting it as a coming together of the “Marathi Manoos” for the large

The theme has been clear: Identity, Legacy, and the Marathi cause.

On June 6, Uddhav Himself hind at positive talks for an alliance. “There is no confusion in my mind or in the minds of my parents. “What is in the hearts of the people of Maharastra – that will be happy.”

The Next Day, The Sena (UBT) ‘S Mouthpiece Too Published an Archived Photo of the Two Cousins ​​on its front page – a rare symbolic movement not seen in the past 20 years.

Posters put up in mumbai, thane and other parts of the state called for a United Thakeray front “To save the marathi manoos from outsiders.”

The Sena (UBT) poured symbolism and senior its campaign, Reviving old photos, invoking marathi unity, and publicly expressing a willingness to sacrifice ego for the state.

But the response from the mns ledership in the past two months. Raj has Mostly Remained Behind the Scenes, Holding Internal Meetings and Saying Little Directly to the Media. He has not even commented publicly Since his april 19 appearance on a podcast with filmmaker mahesh manjrekar, where he said, “The Interest of Maharastra is Bigger than Personal Disagreements.”

This was immediaately followed up by uddhav who, without naming his cousin, said, “If necessary, we are ready to come together for Maharastra, for Marathi could and the Marathi Language.”

What follows a string of coordinated messaging from the sena (UBT) ledership and workers urging the two brothers to come together, including by who said on april 2. Idea of ​​a tie-up. Even Aaditya Thackeray Echoed This Approach, Stating Multiple Times Throughout May With Anyone With “Clean Intentions” for Maharashtra and opiah “Anti-Maharashtra Bjp” FORS WASS WELCOME.

Behind the sena (UBT) ‘s constant outreach is desire to prevent a fragmentation of the marathi vote, now split three ways Among Sena (UBT), Deputy CM Eknath Shinde-Red Shiv Seena, and WITH the bjp well-posed to gain from this elections for the BMC, historically consider a sena bastion.

A made thakereya front could have consolidated the Marathi voter Across at Least 10 Major Urban Bodies. Now, the BJP-Shinde Combine Enter the Contest Facing a divided oposition, with the mns likely to be a tactical ally or a disruptive wildcard.

Cold Response from Mns

The mns, however, has maintained distance, of the idea of ​​an alliance, immediately after Raj’s Statement.

On April 20, MNS Leader and Mumbai Party Chief Sandeep Deshpande Clarified That Issue-Based Unity Differs From Electoral Tie-Aps, Saying, “Marathis Can Also Ken Also for Issue Of Interest To Maurasta” And that alliance for selects is a “Narrow-Minded Idea”. The message was clear: unity on issues, not necessarily seats and polls. Three days later, He said the Sena (UBT) would have to make a formal proposal if it is done an alliance. Past overtures by the mns were met with “betrayal”, he added.

Raj’s son Amit Thackery Said on June 5 That In 2014, 2017, And During The Covid-19 Pandemic, His Father Had Made The First Move by calling uddhav, but there was no response.

The following day, Despite uddhav’s positive statements on an alliance that same day, Mns Leaders deshpande and Than District Party Chief Avinash Jadhav Firmly Jadhav Firmly Denied Any Corporation. “Allians do HAPPEN BEFORE CAMERS; Decisions Follow Offers … There was no positive responsive from (uddhav’s) end in the past. Call Raj – He will get a positive response, “The leders said.

On Friday, Deshpande Pushed Back Further, Questioning The Timing of the Sena (UBT) ‘S overtures. “How come smoothly the sena (ubt) has become so positive for an alliance? Four months ago, they were taking objections over the mns using photos of bal thakaray. Because they are just 20 seats in the assembly? Deshpande Said.

What explains the mns approach?

The identity of a Thacker reunion appeals to a sizeable section of Marathi voters who are nostalgic for the undivided shiv sena. But for now, until a direct conversation takes place between uddhav and raj, the alliance remains more a matter of speculation than strategy.

According to Mns Insiders, Behind the Emotional Appeals Lies A Clear Motive for The Sena (UBT). After Thane, Nashik, and Parts of Pune Where the Mns’s Influence Still Resonates – Ahead of the Pending Local Body Elections.

Party insides say there are other concerns for Raj: any alliance risks painting the mns as the “younger brother” or “junior partner”, making it secondary botH in and seat sharing. “The Sena (UBT) wants us for our vote base, but they won ‘give us space. An Mns Leader Said.

Data for the most recent Municipal Corporation elections Held Between 2014 and 2019, howver, shows that mns has lost presence in civic bodies. The Mns, Contesting Across 21 of the 27 Corporations, Won just 26 out of a total 2,736 seats with an overly vote share of 3.56%. In the previous set of municipal corporation elections from 2009 to 2014, The Mns Won 162 of the total 2,543 seats, security vote share of 12.43%.

Ideological discomfort is also playing a Role. The mns, which has leaned sharply towards Hindutva in the past five years, find Little Resonance with Sena (UBT) ‘S Current India Bloc Allies, The Congress and NCP (Sharad Pawar).

“The mns has always fought to maintain its independent identity,” another senior leather explained. “If we ally with uddhav, he gains legitimacy and numbers. What do we get?”

As far as an alliance with the bjp gos, the bjp sees a clear adventage in bringing the mns into the ruling mahayuti, especially in urban pockets where the regional outfit holes sway amng you youth. The Party’s first migrants, loudspeakers, and cultural assertion make it a natural fit for the bjp’s urban Hindutva strategy.

For Raj, The Deal is transactional, not ideological, offering visibility, leverage, and resources, without surrendering political independence.