BMC Polls 2026: Thackeray brothers - Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray - announced an alliance for the upcoming Municipal Corporation Elections, including the crucial BMC polls in Mumbai on Wednesday. Raj formally announced Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance ahead of municipal corporation elections, in the presence of Uddhav at an event.
Family members of Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray gathered at the alliance announcement event in the presence of media personnel. The rival Thackeray family ended the 20-year-long separation. The family members held a photo-op to display unity. They first paid tributes to Balasaheb Thackeray and then announced an alliance.
"On this historic day of unity for today's Marathi people, party leaders Hon. Shri Uddhavsaheb Thackeray and MNS President Shri Raj Thackeray paid their respects to Hindu Hrudaysamrat Shivsenapramukh Balasaheb Thackeray at the memorial in Shivteeirth. On this occasion, Smt. Rashmivahini Thackeray, Smt. Sharmila Thackeray, Yuvasenapramukh and Shiv Sena leader MLA Aditya Thackeray, MNS leader Amit Thackeray, leaders, deputy leaders, secretaries, MPs, MLAs of Shiv Sena and MNS, as well as other office-bearers and Shiv Sainiks-MNS workers were present," the Shiv Sena (UBT) said on X.
Mayor Of Mumbai Will Be A Marathi: Raj Thackeray
Raj said, "The moment that Maharashtra was waiting for a long time that Shiv Sena and MNS should come together, today we are officially announcing the same."
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"We have come together to stay together", said UBT Sena Chief Uddhav.
Why Have Rival Brothers Come Together?
The two rival families came together as both sides desperately wanted to save their vote bank. Raj failed to make any significant mark in the electoral politics in Maharashtra after separating from his uncle, Balasaheb Thackeray. To consolidate the Maratha vote bank in Mumbai, he needs his brother's support. On the other hand, Uddhav also lost the recent assembly elections and party symbol as well to Eknath Shinde.
The two parties coming together also signals the fact that identity politics will once again hold sway, with the UBT Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray clearly saying that the needs of the Marathi manoos will be looked into. The cause of Maharashtra has been kept as the biggest priority.
Raj Thackeray said, "Maharashtra is bigger than any quarrel; we are announcing that our alliance has been formed, the mayor of Mumbai will be a Marathi and will be ours."
The UBT Sena also sees the alliance as one that will speak for the cause of the Marathi manoos. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said, "This is a very auspicious moment, and the people of Maharashtra have been waiting for this moment... Mumbai accommodates everyone within itself. We have never looked at caste or anyone's religion. We have always spoken about Marathis and sons of the soil."
For both party workers, it means the end of years of political distance between the two cousins. The cadres hope that after the drubbing in the Panchayat poll, the BMC elections will bring better news for the parties.
Maharashtra State Election Commission has announced elections to 29 municipal corporations across the state, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Polling will be held on January 15, with counting set to take place on January 16.
(With ANI inputs)