While the MNS chief said uniting in the interests of “Marathi manoos” was not difficult, former CM Uddhav Thackeray said he was ready to put aside trivial fights, provided that those working against Maharashtra’s interests were not entertained.Uddhav’s assertion has been seen as a veiled reference to the MNS chief recently hosting Deputy CM Eknath Shinde at his residence.Without naming his cousin, Uddhav Thackeray said nothing should be done to help the “thieves”, an apparent reference to the BJP and Shinde-led Sena.Uddhav Thackeray received a major setback in 2022 when Eknath Shinde split the Shiv Sena and toppled his government. Shinde then formed government with BJP’s support.In the last year’s polls to the 288-member state assembly, the Sena (UBT) won only 20 seats out of the 95 it contested as part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi.Raj, nephew of late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, quit the party in January 2006, blaming Uddhav for his decision. He then launched the MNS which initially took a strident anti-North Indian stand.But after winning 13 seats in the 2009 assembly elections, MNS was pushed to the margins. It drew a blank in the 2024 assembly polls.
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