In a significant development that created a sensation in Maharashtra politics, the hither-to estranged Thackeray cousins — Uddhav and Raj — have dropped considerable hints about their sinking their differences and working together in the larger interests of the state.

More than 19 years after he quit the Shiv Sena headed by late Bal Thackeray and founded the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Raj Thackeray held out olive branch to his cousin and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray — which the latter showed sure signs of accepting it.

Participating in a podcast by senior filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar, Raj said: “For me, the interest of Maharashtra is bigger and everything else is secondary before it. For that I can set aside minor disputes and I’m ready to work with Uddhav. Only question if he too is ready for it,” said Raj Thackeray.

“I do not feel that coming together or remaining together is so very difficult… The question is of desire… not my willingness alone or for my selfish purposes… We must look at the larger picture. I feel that the Marathi people from all parties must unite and form a single political party,” Raj said.

Responding positively to the expression of interest shown by Raj, Uddhav — speaking at a function organised by Shiv Sena (UBT)-run trade union  Bhartiya Kamgar Sena — said on Saturday : “There were no differences between us… I am prepared to set aside minor differences in the overall interests of the people of Maharashtra”.

Uddhav said that while he was ready to join hands with Raj, the MNS chief should make his stand clear whether he `will come with me, or go with BJP or ‘gaddar-sena’ ( Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena)’.  “He (Raj) should take the oath to this effect in the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj”.

What lent credence to the possible patch-up between Raj and Uddhav was that the Shiv Sena (UBT) MP and chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut spoke to the media and said: “Both are Thackerays and both are (cousin) brothers. That relation is permanent. They may have had some political differences, so they went on independent paths… We are looking at it from a positive perspective. But, we shall adopt a wait-and-watch attitude”.

Raut said that given that the ruling BJP “wants to erase the Thackeray name from Maharashtra politics”, so the people of the state would welcome if the Thackeray cousins patched up and worked together in the larger interests of Maharashtra.

It may be recalled that three months after he rebelled against Uddhav’s leadership and quit the united Shiv Sena on December 18, 2005, Raj founded the MNS on March 9, 2006. After that the MNS contested five to six elections independently. It is another matter that after initial success, the MNS did not make much of a headway in Maharashtra politics.   

More than six and half years after he had rebelled against his elder cousin and walked out of the Sena and subsequently founded the MNS , Raj had on July 16, 2012 made the first move to improve his strained relations with Uddhav, by visiting the latter at the Lilavati hospital, where the latter subsequently underwent an angioplasty for removal of three major blockages in his coronary arteries.

Raj had driven back Uddhav to “Matoshri” from Lilavati Hospital on that occasion. Raj had also met ailing Thackeray at”Matoshri” – in the presence of Uddhav – at least on three occasions a fortnight ahead of the Sena patriarch’s death on November 17, 2012.

Similarly, Uddhav had tried to reach out Raj in the run-up to the recent Assembly polls, when the latter fell ill and had to cancel his electioneering for some days.  Uddhav had visited Raj’s daughter Urvashi at Hinduja Hospital on November 2, 2014 when the latter was admitted there for injuries sustained in a road mishap.

Raj himself made a disclosure on October 9 2014, six days ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls, that Uddhav had telephoned him to forge a pre-poll alliance between the MNs and Sena, but the initiative did not materialise. Not surprisingly, both Raj and Uddhav did not speak against each other at their public rallies held in the run-up to the State Assembly polls held in October last.