Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray reunited on Sunday for a powerful joint public rally in Mumbai, marking their first major collaborative appearance ahead of the crucial January 15 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections. The cousins declared that their political reconciliation was necessitated by the perceived grave threat facing Mumbai, the Marathi identity, and the interests of Maharashtra, positioning themselves as the sole defenders of the city's cultural and economic sovereignty.

Both leaders launched a blistering assault on the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing it of practising "fake Hindutva" and engaging in divisive Hindu-Muslim politics for electoral gains. Uddhav Thackeray specifically condemned the BJP's nationalism as superficial and opportunistic, highlighting its alleged corruption in civic projects during the previous Sena-BJP administration and claiming massive irregularities worth Rs 3 lakh crore. He further criticised the party for prioritising "corruption first" over national interest and drew sharp attention to controversial alliances formed by the BJP in recent elections.

Raj Thackeray echoed the charge, alleging that the BJP has systematically favoured industrialist Gautam Adani since 2014, facilitating the transfer of Mumbai and Maharashtra's vital assets to his conglomerate. He pointed to major infrastructure initiatives, including the proposed Vadhavan port and the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, as evidence of a deliberate long-term strategy to integrate Mumbai economically with Gujarat and diminish the city's autonomy. The MNS leader warned that allowing the BJP to control the BMC would enable unchecked land sales to private entities and irreversibly harm the Marathi manoos.

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The rally witnessed strong appeals to Marathi pride and identity, with Uddhav questioning the BJP's intentions toward Mumbai's name and future status following remarks by Tamil Nadu BJP leader K Annamalai, who described the city as an "international" rather than a Maharashtra entity. Both cousins portrayed the upcoming civic polls as a decisive "survival battle" for Mumbai, urging voters to recognise the imminent danger and support their coalition to safeguard the metropolis from external influences and internal neglect.

In a charged address, Raj Thackeray cautioned that this election represents the last opportunity for the Marathi community to protect its rights, warning that any misstep could result in the permanent loss of Mumbai's character. The leaders also criticised the proposed three-language policy and Hindi imposition in schools as an attempt to undermine Marathi pride, while calling on party workers to remain vigilant against electoral malpractices, including double voting and EVM irregularities. The joint platform underscored a renewed determination to challenge the BJP's dominance in the financial capital.

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