Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut confirmed on Tuesday that the Uddhav Thackeray-led party and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) will “surely” form an alliance to contest the upcoming local body elections in Maharashtra, including the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Raut expressed confidence that the alliance, driven by public demand for Marathi pride, will secure majorities in civic bodies like Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Thane, and Kalyan-Dombivili.

The announcement follows months of speculation, cemented by a July 2025 joint protest against the Maharashtra government’s three-language policy, which proposed Hindi as a third language for Classes 1-5. The Thackeray cousins’ “Awaj Marathicha” victory rally after the policy’s rollback signaled a thaw in their 20-year rivalry, sparked when Raj Thackeray left the undivided Shiv Sena in 2005 to form MNS, championing the “Marathi Manoos” cause. Raut, a key interlocutor in the reconciliation, stated, “Both Thackerays will come together and discuss this,” emphasizing a united front against the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.

The alliance aims to counter the ruling coalition’s dominance after its landslide victory in the 2024 assembly polls, where Sena (UBT) won 20 seats and MNS drew a blank. Raut dismissed the need for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) or INDIA bloc in local polls, citing unique local dynamics. However, MNS leaders remain cautious, with Sandeep Deshpande previously insisting on a formal proposal from Sena (UBT).

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