'Won't bow down': Thackeray cousins reunite after 20yrs for BMC polls; present united front

MUMBAI: The long-awaited governmental reunion of the Thackeray brothers came aft 20 years, with the 2 joining hands up of the BMC polls connected Wednesday.Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) announced an confederation for the BMC and different civic assemblage elections, soon aft Uddhav and Raj Thackeray paid tribute to Balasaheb Thackeray astatine Shivaji Park.“We person travel unneurotic to enactment together,” Uddhav Thackeray said portion addressing property league with MNS main Raj Thackeray.With their statement connected seat-sharing finalised, the 2 parties volition contention the upcoming municipal corp polls together. The ceremonial announcement was made astatine a associated property league astatine Worli.According to Sena (UBT) functionaries, the projected seat-sharing look for the BMC allocates 145 to 150 seats to Sena (UBT), 65 to 70 seats to the MNS, portion 10 to 12 seats are to beryllium fixed to the NCP (SP). Sena (UBT) has besides “left” 12 to 15 seats wherever it earlier had corporators for the MNS; successful a bulk of these wards, the erstwhile corporators person since joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.Raut said “the contented regarding Congress is presently closed, but Sena (UBT) volition proceed to speech to Congress till the end.” Congress has decided to spell it unsocial successful the BMC polls.He added that the last touches to the confederation were completed precocious Monday night.

“The Sena (UBT) and MNS workers person accepted the alliance. There is nary disagreement implicit seat-sharing. The confederation was formed erstwhile the 2 brothers came unneurotic successful Worli successful July,” helium said.Raut further said, “The contented of seat-sharing successful Nashik, Pune, KDMC, Thane, Mira Bhayandar is over. Discussions are underway with NCP (SP) MLA Jayant Patil regarding an alliance. He is besides successful talks with Uddhav Thackeray.”However, the confederation has triggered crisp reactions from rival Shiv Sena leaders.

Expressing beardown disapproval, Shiv Sena person Raju Waghmare criticised the cousins’ sojourn to Balasaheb Thackeray’s memorial and accused some leaders of betraying his legacy.Shiv Sena person Raju Waghmare said, "Raj and Uddhav Thackeray are going to spell to Balasaheb Thackeray's Shivaji Park Smriti Sthal to wage homage to him. Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray, our idol, volition ne'er forgive these 2 brothers due to the fact that Raj Thackeray betrayed Balasaheb Thackeray and gave him a large scar.

Uddhav Thackeray, connected the different hand, betrayed Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology. Balasaheb Thackeray volition ne'er forgive them; the Marathi radical volition ne'er hide this.

No substance what they bash now, it volition not assistance them. When it comes to spot sharing, their enactment workers are precise tense and aggravated due to the fact that they person been warring against each different for astir the past 2 decades, and present they person to sacrifice their seats..."Congress, which has been an state of the Sena (UBT) astatine the authorities level, has not joined the civic canvass confederation but sees governmental value successful the reunion of the Thackeray cousins, claiming it signals cracks wrong the ruling Mahayuti.Congress person Atul Londhe said, "Today's quality is that Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar are going to travel together. Does this mean that the Mahayuti has suffered a split?"The Maharashtra State Election Commission has announced elections to 29 municipal corporations, including the BMC, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC).

Polling volition beryllium held connected January 15, with counting scheduled for January 16.Meanwhile, the ruling Mahayuti—comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP—has dominated caller section assemblage elections crossed 286 municipalities and nagar panchayats. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, congratulating BJP workers, said the results were a “trailer” for the upcoming civic polls.