Thackerays Reunite at MNS Deepotsav, Hinting Alliance Thaw

In a vivid display of familial and political reconciliation, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin Raj Thackeray, leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), joined forces with their families for the annual Deepotsav event at Shivaji Park on October 17, 2025. The gathering, steeped in Diwali traditions, featured rows of glowing oil lamps illuminating the park named after Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, symbolising unity and renewal. Uddhav, the former Maharashtra chief minister, inaugurated the programme, arriving alongside Raj in a single vehicle under the glare of media spotlights—a poignant optic that has fuelled speculation about a deeper alliance between their factions ahead of crucial local body elections. This seventh meeting since July underscores a thaw in relations strained for nearly two decades, offering a rare glimpse of solidarity in Mumbai's fractious political landscape.

The event brimmed with heartfelt moments, as family members mingled seamlessly, evoking nostalgia and emotion. Uddhav's son Aaditya Thackeray shared a car with Raj's son Amit, while Uddhav's younger son Tejas and Raj's daughter Urvashi rode in the back seat, driven by Aaditya. Uddhav's wife, Rashmi, and Raj's spouse, Sharmila, arrived separately, adding to the familial tableau. Kunda Thackeray, Raj's mother and Uddhav's paternal and maternal aunt, was visibly moved by the reunion, wiping tears amid the festive ambiance. Though framed as a non-political celebration, the covert messaging was unmistakable: a united Thackeray front poised to bolster both parties' prospects in the upcoming rural and urban polls, due by January 31, 2026. Aaditya Thackeray amplified the excitement on social media beforehand, praising the illumination's enhancement of the park's grandeur and expressing anticipation for Uddhav's inauguration.

Uddhav addressed the crowd with optimism, declaring, "Today's Diwali is special. The unity of Marathi manoos and its light will bring happiness in everyone's lives," invoking the collective spirit of Maharashtra's Marathi-speaking populace—a core rallying cry for both leaders. This bonhomie follows a turbulent history: Raj's acrimonious departure from the undivided Shiv Sena in 2005, which he blamed on Uddhav, led to the MNS's formation in 2006 and years of rivalry. The 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections delivered setbacks, with Shiv Sena (UBT) securing only 20 seats, prompting the cousins to bury hatchets for mutual survival. Party insiders now view a formal pre-poll pact as inevitable, aiming to consolidate regionalist votes against dominant rivals like the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. Historically, Raj has backed the BJP in elections, including inaugurating Deepotsav in 2022 alongside then-Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Devendra Fadnavis.

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The reconciliation's roots trace to the 2022 Shiv Sena schism, which ousted Uddhav's Maha Vikas Aghadi government and installed Shinde as chief minister. Yet, this Deepotsav—once a platform for cross-party optics—now heralds a potential Thackeray resurgence, blending legacy with pragmatism. As Maharashtra navigates its electoral calendar, the event not only lit up Shivaji Park but also kindled hopes for a revitalised opposition. With local polls looming, observers anticipate collaborative strategies that could reshape Mumbai's power dynamics, echoing the enduring influence of the Thackeray clan in the state's socio-political fabric.

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