Sanjay Raut, the head of the Shiv Sena (UBT), said that Raj Thackeray could be reached directly without the need for intermediary in light of the shifting political climate in Maharashtra. The Thackeray cousins were urged to unite by posters that had appeared in Mumbai.
“We don’t need a middleman to communicate with Raj Thackeray. Raj and Uddhav Thackeray may chat to each other anytime they wish since they are brothers. My closeness with Raj Thackeray is well known to everyone,” Sanjay Raut added.
Raj, who was formerly seen as Bal Thackeray’s political successor, left the Shiv Sena in 2005 and attributed his defection to Uddhav.
In the meanwhile, rumors of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) approaching the Sena (UBT) with a proposal for a potential alliance have been stoked by a meeting between Sanjay Raut and MNS leader Abhijit Panse.
When questioned about the likelihood of two Thackeray cousins marrying, Raut previously said, “This problem is between the two brothers. No family should ever be in conflict. They are brothers, and their long-standing, non-political relationship transcends politics.
Raj founded the MNS in 2006 after leaving the Shiv Sena in 2005 due to a power struggle with Uddhav. The two cousins have been at odds ever since. When its senior leader Eknath Shinde and more than 30 other MLAs revolted against Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership of the Shiv Sena last year, the party split. Later, Shinde allied himself with the BJP and was appointed chief minister.