As speculation mounted over a possible reconciliation between cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, the Shiv Sena (UBT) made it clear on Sunday that no formal alliance has been declared, and that Uddhav has not laid down any preconditions for a possible rapprochement.
Meanwhile, a Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader rubbished the possibility of an electoral alliance as a remote one.
Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena dismissed reports of a reconciliation between the two groups as "politically irrelevant" in Maharashtra, describing both Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS as politically irrelevant in Maharashtra. The statement was issued after Raj and Uddhav made comments that suggested ending the rivalry and joining forces, almost two decades after a acrimonious divide.
Raj Thackeray recommended that coming together in the interests of the "Marathi manoos" need not be complicated, while Uddhav Thackeray showed his openness to putting the "frivolous battles" behind him, provided those laboring against Maharashtra's interests are not indulged.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, while speaking to the media on Sunday, indicated that although no alliance has been announced, emotional discussions between the two Thackeray cousins are taking place. "There is no announcement of an alliance. At present, emotional talks are on. They (Raj and Uddhav) meet at family gatherings. They are brothers," Raut clarified.
Raut went on to say that Uddhav Thackeray has not laid any conditions for the reunion, but instead stressed that giving top priority to Maharashtra's interests and refraining from entering into alliances with people he terms as enemies of the state are paramount.
"Anyone who joins them (BJP) is the 'enemy' of Maharashtra," Raut went on, indicating Uddhav's indirect criticism of Raj's recent meeting with Deputy CM Eknath Shinde.
Replying to the all-round speculation, MNS Mumbai chief Sandeep Deshpande said people were over-reading Raj Thackeray's latest statements. He also made it clear that an election alliance is not being worked out as of now and insisted that Shiv Sena (UBT) should join MNS's crusade for the welfare of Marathi people and the language.
"Raj saheb's interview has to be viewed from a larger perspective. His position was that all Marathi people have to unite for the sake of Maharashtra and Marathi manoos. That was his position. He is reading too much into it," Deshpande replied, answering questions on the possibility of an alliance.
Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde, visibly irritated by the media’s questions regarding the Thackeray reconciliation, brusquely dismissed the inquiry and directed attention back to the government’s work. “Talk about work,” Shinde said curtly.
Sanjay Raut reacted to Shinde’s outburst, suggesting that Shinde’s anger was understandable and once again pointed out that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seemed uninterested in the alliance, implying that the BJP did not support the potential union. Fadnavis had recently remarked, "If they unite, we are welcome. Estranged individuals should get together, and if their fight stops, that is a welcome development.I think the media is reading between the lines a bit too much, so better to wait for some time."
In another development, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam lashed out at Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS alike, saying the people of Maharashtra had already turned down both the parties because both were only thinking about power, not the well-being of the state. Nirupam further accused Uddhav's Shiv Sena (UBT) of going off track from Balasaheb Thackeray's core ideology.
"The Maharashtrians have unanimously spurned UBT and MNS. They claim to be representatives of Maharashtra, but their motive is actually to seek power and selfish ends. They politically do not count for anything," Nirupam said in a press meet.
He also belittled the chances of a reunion between the two Thackeray groups, highlighting their political insignificance. "The MNS failed to win even a single seat in the previous assembly elections. Politically, both UBT and MNS are bankrupt. And when you multiply zero by zero, the outcome is still zero. Even in trade, two loss-making units don't become a profitable one," Nirupam summed up.
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