Thackeray Brothers Unite: A Historic Rally Defends Marathi Identity

A historic day unfolded in Maharashtra politics as the long-estranged Thackeray brothers, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, shared the stage for the first time in 18 years at the Vijayi Melava, held at Worli Dome. The rally, centered around defending the Marathi identity and opposing the imposition of Hindi through the three-language formula, drew massive crowds and triggered a political storm.

In a striking moment, Raj Thackeray openly acknowledged the person responsible for bringing the brothers back together. "What Balasaheb Thackeray couldn’t do, what no one else could do — Devendra Fadnavis managed to do. He brought us together!" This revelation created a buzz across political circles and was seen as a sharp and unexpected twist in Maharashtra’s political narrative

Without directly naming Raj Thackeray, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray took a subtle dig, saying, “We now have an Education Minister who is learning Marathi and a Chief Minister who is learning English.” The remark was met with laughter and applause, further igniting political discussions.

The Thackeray brothers united in opposition to the recent Hindi-language push in schools, which many have criticized as an attempt to dilute regional languages. Raj Thackeray questioned the sudden promotion of Hindi, asking, “Where did Hindi suddenly come from? Why Hindi? For whom? Why impose Hindi on young children?” He strongly criticized the government for taking such decisions unilaterally, without consulting educational experts. “You may have the power inside the Vidhan Bhavan, but our real power is on the streets,” he warned.

Raj Thackeray also spoke about his communication with Maharashtra Minister Dada Bhuse, saying, “I gave him two letters. He came to me and said, ‘You understand.’ I told him, ‘I’ll listen to everything you say, but I won’t accept it.’” He clarified that both Thackeray brothers had joined forces specifically to oppose the central government’s trilingual language policy.

The rally witnessed an outpouring of enthusiasm from Shiv Sainiks, MNS workers, and Marathi-speaking citizens. The symbolism of the Thackeray family unity and the powerful speeches turned the event into a strong statement for regional pride and cultural identity. Many attendees expressed that this moment could mark a fresh chapter in the assertion of Marathi identity in Maharashtra’s political landscape.