Uddhav-Raj Reunion Confirmed! Thackeray Brothers To Share Stage In Mumbai After 2 Decades On July 5 For 'Marathi Vijay Melava'

Mumbai: Mumbai is gearing up for a rare political moment on July 5 as estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray are set to share the stage in a show of Marathi solidarity. The event, titled ‘Marathi Vijay Melava’ (Victory Rally), follows the Maharashtra government's rollback of controversial government resolutions mandating Hindi as a compulsory third language from Class 1 under the three-language policy.

Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut officially confirmed the Thackeray reunion during a press conference on Tuesday. “The imposition of Hindi has been withdrawn. It is a victory of the people of Maharashtra. What was to be a protest march on July 5 will now be a celebration,” he said. “Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray will both be on stage together. It will be a sight to behold.”

Earlier in the day, Raut shared a poster with the caption “It’s settled. July 5 – A Victory Rally for Marathi! Thackerays are coming...” alongside a triumphant “Jai Maharashtra.” The same image was posted on Shiv Sena (UBT)’s official social media handle late Monday night, triggering speculation that the event would mark a symbolic coming together of the Thackeray cousins in defence of Marathi identity.

The rally was originally conceived as a protest against the state’s GRs, which proposed compulsory Hindi education from the first grade. The decision faced sharp backlash from both Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), with both parties accusing the ruling Mahayuti government of cultural imposition.

Maharashtra Govt Roles Back Hindi Imposition GR

Mounting political pressure and public outcry eventually led Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to announce the withdrawal of both GRs in a press conference on Sunday, joined by Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. The government also constituted a new committee headed by Dr Narendra Jadhav to review the language policy, assuring that Marathi would remain mandatory in schools.

“This isn’t just a policy reversal, it’s a victory for every Marathi-speaking citizen who stood up for their language,” said Uddhav Thackeray following the announcement.

With political temperatures soaring ahead of crucial civic polls, the joint appearance of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray is expected to send a strong signal to the electorate and could reshape the contours of the opposition in Maharashtra. July 5 will now mark not just a policy triumph but also a potential thaw in the decades-old Thackeray family split.

news