Mumbai, November 28, 2025 — In what could signal a major political realignment in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav Thackeray met his cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray on Thursday to discuss seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming municipal elections.
The meeting, held at Raj Thackeray’s Dadar residence ‘Shivtirtha‘ in Mumbai, marks the latest in a series of engagements between the once-estranged political cousins, fuelling speculation about a formal alliance between their parties.
Seat-Sharing Takes Centre Stage
Sources close to the Shiv Sena (UBT) revealed that the two leaders primarily focused on dividing seats for elections to key municipal corporations across Maharashtra, particularly the prestigious Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), along with civic bodies in Thane, Pune, and Nashik—areas where both parties traditionally hold considerable influence.
“The discussion cantered on how to optimize our combined strength in urban areas without cannibalizing each other’s vote banks,” said a senior Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary who requested anonymity.
The meeting also addressed two contentious issues that have dominated Maharashtra’s political discourse in recent weeks.
Voter List Controversy and Congress Concerns
Both leaders discussed alleged irregularities in electoral rolls, an issue that has united opposition parties across the state. Earlier this week, the Thackeray cousins jointly submitted a letter to the State Election Commission seeking additional time to file objections to the draft voter list, marking a rare display of coordination.
However, not everyone in the opposition camp is pleased with the growing Thackeray bonhomie. The meeting reportedly touched upon resistance from the Congress, which is Shiv Sena (UBT)’s partner in the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance. Congress leaders are understood to be sceptical about bringing the MNS into any electoral understanding, given past political differences.
“The Congress has reservations, and those need to be addressed sensitively,” acknowledged a leader familiar with the discussions.
From Estrangement to Engagement
The rapprochement between Uddhav and Raj Thackeray has been one of 2025’s most significant political developments. The cousins, who split politically two decades ago when Raj broke away to form the MNS, have met multiple times this year.
Their most symbolic moment came in July when they shared a stage for the first time in 20 years at a rally opposing Hindi language policies, signalling a willingness to put past differences aside for common political objectives.
Despite the warming ties, neither party has formally announced an alliance. Both leaders have, however, dropped several hints about contesting local body elections together, particularly in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region where their combined support could pose a formidable challenge to the ruling Mahayuti coalition.
High Stakes for Local Body Polls
The timing is critical. Maharashtra is currently in the midst of rural and urban local body elections, with voting for 246 municipal councils and 42 Nagar panchayats scheduled for December 2. This will be followed by elections for 336 panchayat samitis, 32 district councils, and 29 municipal corporations—dates for which are yet to be announced.
The entire local body election process must be completed by January 31, 2025, setting a tight timeline for alliance negotiations.
For both Thackeray-led parties, these elections represent a crucial opportunity to rebuild after setbacks in recent state elections. The BMC, once a Shiv Sena bastion, holds particular significance as both cousins seek to reclaim political ground in Mumbai.
The MVA Dilemma
The Shiv Sena (UBT) faces a delicate balancing act. While it is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi along with the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), any formal alliance with the MNS could strain these existing partnerships.
The MNS, while not part of the MVA, has supported the opposition on select issues, particularly the voter list controversy. Whether this issue-based cooperation will evolve into a full-fledged electoral alliance remains to be seen.
Political analysts suggest that the Thackeray cousins may opt for seat-sharing arrangements limited to specific municipal corporations where their interests align, rather than a state-wide alliance that could complicate MVA dynamics.
What’s Next?
With municipal corporation elections expected in the coming weeks, the political clock is ticking. Both Uddhav and Raj Thackeray will need to navigate internal party pressures, alliance concerns, and voter expectations as they finalize their strategy.
For now, the Dadar meeting has sent a clear message: the Thackeray cousins are serious about working together, and Maharashtra’s political landscape may be on the verge of a significant shift.
As one veteran political observer noted, “In Maharashtra politics, nothing is final until the last vote is cast. But if the Thackerays manage to unite their forces, even partially, it could change the mathematics in urban Maharashtra.”
The State Election Commission has not yet announced final dates for the municipal corporation elections, though they must be completed by January 31, 2025.
Leave a Reply