Uddhav and Raj Thackeray to Share Stage in Mumbai as MNS and Shiv Sena Announce Joint Marathi Victory Rally
Mumbai, 1st July 2025: In a significant political development, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Uddhav Thackeray will unite for a joint rally at the NSCI Dome in Worli, Mumbai, on 5th July, marking their first public appearance together in nearly two decades. The event, titled ‘Marathi Vijay Diwas,’ comes after the Maharashtra government withdrew controversial orders mandating Hindi as a compulsory third language in schools, a move both parties had strongly opposed.
The rally, originally conceived as a protest against the three-language policy, has now been rebranded as a celebration of Marathi pride and unity. Both parties issued a joint public invitation addressed to “Marathi sisters and brothers,” emphasizing that the event is a victory for the Marathi-speaking community. The invitation notably omits party symbols, instead featuring a graphic of the state and listing both Thackeray cousins as hosts.
Preparations for the rally are underway, with senior leaders from both parties coordinating logistics and outreach. From the Shiv Sena (UBT), Sanjay Raut, Anil Parab, and Varun Sardesai are leading the efforts, while the MNS has assigned Bala Nandgaonkar, Abhijit Panse, Sandeep Deshpande, and Nitin Sardesai to the task.
The joint appearance of Raj and Uddhav Thackeray is widely seen as a potential show of strength and a signal of possible future collaboration, especially with the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections on the horizon. While both parties have begun preliminary talks about a possible alliance, seat-sharing in key Mumbai constituencies remains a contentious issue.
