raj-thackeray-denies-remarks-on-sena-ubt-alliance-talks

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday denied making any remarks about forging an alliance with the Shiv Sena (UBT) led by his cousin Uddhav Thackeray, claiming his words were wrongly attributed to him by a section of the media.

 

In a post on X, Thackeray clarified that if he intends to make any political announcement, he would do so formally through a press conference.

 

The MNS chief said his party had organised a conclave for selected office-bearers at Igatpuri in Nashik on 14 and 15 July, where he had an informal interaction with journalists.

 

“When there was an informal chat with journalists, I was asked about the 5 July victory celebration rally in Mumbai. I said the event was to celebrate the victory of the Marathi manoos and that it was not political. Then they asked about the alliance with the Shiv Sena (UBT). To this, I responded by asking — Should I discuss alliance matters with you now?” Thackeray said in his post.

 

“Words I did not utter were put in my mouth, claiming that the decision on the alliance would be taken after assessing the situation before the municipal elections,” he added.

 

Thackeray said informal talks should remain informal and remarked that, having been associated with journalism since 1984, such behaviour by some journalists was unbecoming.

 

On 5 July, Raj and Uddhav Thackeray shared a political stage after nearly two decades to celebrate the BJP-led Maharashtra government’s rollback of two controversial orders that introduced Hindi as a third language from Class 1 in state schools.

 

While Uddhav appears keen for a tie-up ahead of crucial civic polls in Mumbai and other cities, Raj Thackeray has yet to clarify his party’s stand.

 

On Monday, in the same informal interaction at Igatpuri, Raj reportedly told journalists the joint rally was only about the Marathi cause and not about politics. He said the MNS would decide its election plans once the civic polls are announced.

 

During the 5 July rally, Uddhav Thackeray had declared, “We have come together to stay together. We will together capture power in the Mumbai civic body and Maharashtra.”

 

The elections to the high-profile civic body in Mumbai, seen as the Sena’s bastion, along with other municipal corporations, are due by the end of this year.