'Last Election For Marathi Manoos': Uddhav, Raj Up The Ante For BMC Polls, Call BJP's Hindutva 'Fake'

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday held a massive rally in Mumbai ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. During the rally, they targeted the BJP, calling their Hindutva "fake".

The Thackeray cousins also called the upcoming BMC polls the last fight for "Marathi manoos", a prominent term meaning 'Marathi people' used by aggressive pro-Maratha politicians.

Long estranged cousins said that their political reunion after 20 years was triggered by imminent "danger" to Mumbai.

Addressing the rally, Uddhav said he and Raj Thackeray, who heads the MNS, have buried their differences for the Marathi manoos, Hindus, and Maharashtra.

Reaching out to the core Marathi vote bank, Raj said that he has joined hands with Uddhav as Mumbai is facing danger and this election is the last for Marathi manoos.

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The MNS chief said, "This is the last election for Marathi manoos. If he makes a mistake now, the battle (for Mumbai) will be lost forever."

Speaking after Raj, the Sena (UBT) chief questioned whether the BJP wants to rename Mumbai as "Bombay", invoking remarks by Tamil Nadu BJP leader K Annamalai.

Recently, Annamalai, who was in Mumbai for the BMC poll campaign, lauded Mumbai as an 'International city' and not just a 'Maharashtra city.'

His remarks drew ire from the opposition parties, who called the statement a deliberate attempt to isolate Mumbai from Maharashtra.

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Uddhav continued with his attacks on the BJP during the rally, accusing the saffron party of playing divisive politics ahead of elections.

The Shiv Sena UBT chief said, "BJP's Hindutva and nationalism are fake." "The BJP has become a party which says corruption first, instead of nation first," he added.

(With PTI Inputs)