In a significant and symbolic gesture, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday visited Matoshree, the residence of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, after a gap of 13 years, to personally extend birthday greetings on Uddhav’s 65th birthday.
The visit, which was confirmed by PTI, marks a notable thaw in the once-frosty relations between the estranged cousins. Raj Thackeray arrived at Matoshree from his residence, Shivteerth in Dadar, and was accompanied by senior MNS leaders Bala Nandgaonkar and Nitin Sardesai. He was received at the gates by Uddhav and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut.
Raj handed Uddhav a bouquet of red roses, and images and videos of the moment quickly went viral on social media. The photos showed the two leaders standing together with a portrait of the late Balasaheb Thackeray — the iconic Shiv Sena founder and their shared political mentor — visible in the background.
This is the first time Raj Thackeray has stepped inside Matoshree since November 2012, when he visited the residence following Balasaheb Thackeray's death.
Following the visit, the Shiv Sena (UBT) took to X (formerly Twitter) and posted: “Party chief Hon. Shri. Uddhavsaheb Thackeray was extended birthday greetings by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Hon. Rajsaheb Thackeray.”
The visit comes on the heels of a growing public camaraderie between the two leaders. Earlier this month, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray shared a political stage in Mumbai’s Worli for the first time in nearly two decades. The event, which focused on protecting Marathi identity and opposing the perceived "imposition" of the Hindi language, was seen as a soft launch of a potential political realignment.
“We have come together to stay together. We will together capture power in the Mumbai civic body and Maharashtra,” Uddhav had declared at the Worli event, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.
While both parties have historically drawn support from similar Marathi-speaking urban constituencies, decades of rivalry between the Thackeray cousins have kept them politically apart. Raj Thackeray formed the MNS in 2006 after parting ways with the Shiv Sena, then led by Balasaheb and Uddhav.
However, with municipal and state elections on the horizon, Sunday’s visit and the earlier joint appearance are being interpreted as signs of a possible alliance — or at the very least, a strategic détente — between the two leaders.
Political analysts say the growing warmth between Uddhav and Raj could have implications for upcoming civic polls in Mumbai and beyond, especially as regional parties seek to consolidate Marathi votes in the face of rising influence from national parties like the BJP.
Whether the reunion translates into a formal political alliance remains to be seen, but for now, the gesture at Matoshree has reignited discussions around a Thackeray family reconciliation — and possibly, a recalibration of the balance of power in Maharashtra politics.
