The municipal elections in the state are scheduled to be held on January 15, 2026, and the political atmosphere has already heated up. In the final phase of campaigning, accusations and counter-accusations are rampant, with all parties seen criticizing each other fiercely. Amidst this, a joint interview given by Shiv Sena Thackeray group's leader Uddhav Thackeray and MNS president Raj Thackeray has caused a major stir in political circles.
For the first time since the establishment of MNS, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray were seen together on stage. In this special interview given to Sanjay Raut and Mahesh Manjrekar, the Thackeray brothers made direct and clear comments on many important topics. During this time, they made serious allegations against the BJP, firmly stating that it is necessary for us to take control of all municipal corporations in the state, including Mumbai and Thane, in the upcoming municipal elections.
During the interview, Sanjay Raut claimed that there was internal rebellion within the Bharatiya Janata Party. “This time there is a lot of discontent within the BJP. Many people have left the party,” said Raut. Reacting to this, Uddhav Thackeray said, “As Raj said, their house of cards will now disappear,” taking a jibe at the BJP. Uddhav Thackeray's statement is currently being widely discussed in political circles.
Speaking further on this, Raj Thackeray clarified the metaphor of the house of cards by saying, “In childhood, we all used to build a house of cards. Looking at the BJP, they also have a house of cards, but it is upside down. The bottommost card is Narendra Modi's.” He clearly stated that most of the votes BJP is currently receiving are solely in the name of Narendra Modi, not in anyone else's name.
Raj Thackeray also commented on the issue of migration and the population from outside the state. “We are told that a person from Maharashtra can go and live anywhere in the country. But does this principle apply equally in other states?” he questioned. He pointed out that other states control the population coming to them, but only in Maharashtra do our own people say 'anyone can live anywhere'.
Meanwhile, with the MNS and Shiv Sena Thackeray faction coming together, there is a possibility of significant political upheaval in the upcoming municipal elections. Although the exact impact of this unity between the Thackeray brothers will be clear after January 16, for now, their statements have added a new dimension to politics.