Political cousins Thackeray hold talks on possible alliance ahead of civic polls

Politics Politics of India

Posted by AI on 2025-09-10 16:18:35 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-10 18:38:32

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In what could be a potential game-changer for the political landscape of Maharashtra, cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray met in Mumbai on Sunday, sparking speculation of a pre-poll alliance between the Shiv Sena and MNS for the upcoming civic polls.

The meeting, which lasted over an hour at the Mantralaya, came days after the Election Commission announced the dates for the civic polls in Mumbai and other cities in Maharashtra. Sources close to the leaders have stated that the discussion centred around possible seat-sharing and other contentious issues between the two parties.

While the Shiv Sena is a key constituent of the ruling MVA coalition in the state, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has been vocal in its opposition to the alliance and has been particularly critical of SS leader and former Minister Eknath Shinde.

Both parties have been involved in a tug-of-war over the control of the Mumbai and Thane civic corporations, with the Shiv Sena currently ruling Mumbai and the MNS holding control over Thane. News of the meeting and potential alliance has already sent shockwaves through the opposition camps, with leaders of the BJP and Congress reportedly weighing in on the potential impact on the MVA.

The Shiv Sena and MNS, while ideologically similar in many ways, have remained distant due to familial tensions and competition for the same voter base.

If an official alliance does materialize ahead of the polls, it would mark a significant shift in Maharashtra politics and could potentially soften the cracks within the MVA alliance.

The move could also be a smart political tactic to present a unified front against the BJP and cushion the impact of any possible defections or rebel votes ahead of the civic polls.

Only time will tell whether these talks will materialize into a formal alliance or whether they are merely exploratory discussions.

For now, the political scene in Maharashtra is abuzz with excitement and speculation at the unexpected turn of events.

The Shiv Sena and MNS have always projected themselves as the voices of the masses, and now, ironically, it is the people who will have to wait and watch which voice emerges stronger.

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