“Raj Thackeray’s Stand on Marathi Rights Brought Uddhav to the Stage,” Says Minister Sanjay Shirsat

Mumbai: The political tremors from the grand “Aawaz Marathicha” rally held in Mumbai continue to echo, as Minister and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader Sanjay Shirsat weighed in on the rare reunion of estranged cousins Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray. Speaking, Shirsat credited Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray as the primary force behind the rally’s success and the Thackeray duo’s unexpected public appearance together.

According to Shirsat, the event—held in solidarity with the Marathi language—was a moment of pride for party workers across Maharashtra, many of whom had long hoped for a show of unity between the two influential leaders. However, he clarified that the credit for this unity lay firmly with Raj Thackeray, whose consistent advocacy for Marathi language, he said, created the momentum that brought Uddhav Thackeray to share the platform.

“Today in Mumbai, the event organized in honor of Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray share the stage, something that the party workers had long wished for,” said Shirsat. “It felt good to see that happen. However, the reason they came together on one stage was solely because of Raj Saheb. Raj Saheb strongly raised his voice regarding the rights of the Marathi language.”