Uddhav hints at patch up with estranged cousin Raj

BJP says it is a positive step for forging a grand alliance in Maharashtra

Newly-appointed Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray has dropped a hint about a patch up with his estranged cousin and  Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray ahead of next assembly and parliamentary elections slated for 2014. However, Uddhav, who has not been vocal on this issue since Raj left Sena to form MNS in 2006, in his interview to the party's mouthpiece Saamna clarified, "This is a question that the two of us (Raj and I) have to sit together and discuss. The two us have to decide the answer together." 

In this connection it may be recalled that Uddhav's father, late Bal Thackeray, in his video address on the occasion of annual Dussera rally, had desired unity of Marathi Manoos.

Uddhav's indication is in line with that of the late Sena supremo, who in his recent interview with a Marathi channel had said he wished two cousins would come together, although it was too late for him to put efforts in that direction. “My wishes in that directions will not work alone. I can take a horse to water but cannot make him drink it. They themselves should feel like coming together,” Thackeray had said in his interview.

Shiv Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut said Uddhav's was the direction ahead for the party. "The interview in Saamna is not only an interview, it is the direction of the party. Uddhav wants to go on Bal Thackeray's principles," said Raut.

However, Raut clarified that he posed a question as a reporter to Uddhav and told him that people wanted to know if Shiv Sena and MNS would come together. Raut refused to offer any further comments or explanations about the interview. "It is better to ask both of them about coming together. Uddhav's answer is in black and white and I should not comment on it," he added.

Incidentally, Raj has refused to comment on this issue.

Vinod Tawde, BJP's leader of opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council told Business Standard "Don't read too much into Uddhav's statement, though it is a positive step in the direction of forging a grand alliance to dislodge the corrupt and inefficient Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra." He recalled that BJP's former national president Nitin Gadkari and party's deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde had been batting for bringing Raj into the Sena-BJP-RPI alliance ahead of next assembly elections.

Uddhav's statement comes at a time when both he and Raj have already proposed state wide separate tours in February. Both have already announced that their tours were for the growth of their respective parties and to expose Congress-NCP government on various issues, including alleged mishandling of the current drought situation.