Uddhav hints at political alliance with Raj

Raj did not talk about a political alliance with Shiv Sena (UBT) but said there was a need for the Marathi-speaking people to unite

- Surendra P Gangan and Shailesh Gaikwad

MUMBAI: Estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray on Saturday shared a stage in public for the first time in nearly two decades at a rally in Worli to celebrate the Mahay-uti government's decision to roll back its controversial order introducing Hindi as a third language in primary schools across Maharashtra.

At a packed National Sports Club of India (NSCI) Dome arena, the cousins promised to fight for the rights of the Marathi manoos (people), while Uddhav even hinted at an alliance between their parties, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), for the upcoming local body elections across the state.

If the cousins do forge an alliance, it could lead to a realignment of forces and change the political equations in Maharashtra, which saw the Mahayuti alliance return to power with a thumping majority in the assembly elections last year.