Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray. File | Photo credit: PTI
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday (Oct 26, 2025) claimed that when Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was part of the undivided Shiv Sena, he urged him to work for a rapprochement between cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray (Jana JP) of the Bharatiya Party to “stop” Bharatiya Party
In his weekly column ‘Rokthok’ in the Sena’s (UBT) mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, Mr Raut said Mr Shinde was unhappy when the Thackeray cousins came together.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Mr Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Mr Raj Thackeray seem to have put aside their differences and have been making public appearances together for the past few months amid buzz that they might form an alliance for the upcoming civic polls in the state.
Bringing the two parties together ahead of the rural and urban polls, due to be held by January 31, 2026, is now a mere formality, according to leaders of both parties.
In his column, Mr Raut said: “Shinde and (Shiv Sena minister) Pratap Sarnaik have told me several times in the past to bring Raj and Uddhav Thackeray together. This, he said, was necessary to unfurl the saffron flag over Maharashtra. The cousins must unite to stop the BJP.” They were right, he said.
The Rajya Sabha MP alleged that both Sarnaik and Shinde went to meet Mr. Raj Thackeray without obtaining permission from Matoshri, Mr. Uddhav Thackeray’s residence.
He accused Shinde of betraying Mr. Uddhav Thackeray for his own interest.
Mr. Raut further alleged that Mr. Shinde is working to finish off Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who in turn does not want the Shiv Sena senior leader and his men anywhere around him.
He claimed that Mr. Shinde’s condition worsened after the cousins joined hands and Maratha unity strengthened.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Raut later pointed out that Shinde’s trips to Delhi had increased as the Supreme Court hearing date on the party symbol approached.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the Shiv Sena UBT’s plea on November 12 against the Maharashtra Speaker’s decision to assign the party’s ‘bow and arrow’ symbol to the Eknath Shinde-led faction.
Mr Shinde was in Delhi on Saturday (October 25, 2025) where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
However, the Deputy Chief Minister was not available for comment.
Published – 26 October 2025 15:53 IST
