There was a time when Raj Thackeray was in Shiv Sena, he was very popular. People said he was a carbon copy of Balasaheb. The power, the way they spoke was very similar. Uddhav who got jealous of this. At that time Uddhav was doing a lot of internal politics. He wanted to be Balasaheb’s heir. Things got very nasty and reached personal levels. Uddhav started getting people to support him as was trying to get control of Sena after Balasheb. Raj, who was very upset by this, left Shiv Sena in 2005 and set up his own party called MNS. This was a very big thing to do. He started his own party when Balasaheb was still alive. 

Now there have been many speculations about Shiv Sena (UBT) & MNS coming together.  Now, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut's meeting with MNS leader Abhijit Panse has triggered speculation about a possible alliance between the estranged Thackeray cousins Raj and Uddhav. 

“I was visiting Raut's residence in Bhandup for personal work. He was going to the Saamna office, so I went along. It is obvious that a discussion will take place on the recent political developments. But I did not go with any proposal (of alliance)," Panse told reporters. Asked about the possibility of two Thackeray cousins coming together, Raut said, “This matter is between the two brothers. No household should have a dispute. They are brothers and the relations between the two are long-lasting and go beyond politics." 
A few years back in Shiv Sena’s newspaper Saamna, an article was written when it said Sena is ready to join hands with MNS but MNS is not coming forward. When Raj Thackeray was asked about this article, he said, “What is the point in writing in the paper? I should shake hands with the paper. Come to me and ask me formally. Then we will see!” This was a few years back. 

The situation doesn’t seem to have changed. 

These cousins have a very complicated relationship. Now only time will tell if they join hands.

Tags

• raj thackeray uddhav thackeray

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