Shivaji Park, Mumbai, January 12, 2026: In a politically charged show of unity, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray appeared together at a large public rally at Shivaji Park on Sunday, marking their first joint platform in nearly two decades. The event, attended by thousands of supporters and party workers, was framed as a call for Marathi unity and a renewed assertion of regional identity ahead of the forthcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections.
The venue carried deep symbolic weight. Shivaji Park is where the Shiv Sena was founded in 1966, and speakers repeatedly invoked the legacy of Bal Thackeray and the broader history of the Marathi movement. Old-time Shiv Sainiks and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers, some associated with the undivided Shiv Sena for over three decades, were visible in large numbers, underscoring the emotional resonance of the reunion.
Both leaders trained their fire on the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti, accusing it of arrogance, opportunistic alliances and a failure to address everyday concerns such as inflation, public transport costs and civic services in Mumbai. Speakers criticised welfare schemes that they argued had been eroded by rising prices, with several attendees voicing frustration over the shrinking value of household incomes amid rising costs of essentials.
Uddhav Thackeray revisited the Shiv Sena’s record in running the BMC for two decades, claiming that civic amenities had deteriorated since the party lost control. Raj Thackeray, meanwhile, urged Marathi-speaking leaders across parties to come together to safeguard Mumbai’s interests, warning against what he described as attempts to dilute Maharashtra’s political and cultural influence.
The rally also saw sharp political messaging on recent controversies, including alliances forged by rival parties and decisions that, according to the speakers, undermined public trust. While the speeches were laced with criticism, the dominant theme remained consolidation rather than immediate electoral arithmetic.
For many in attendance, the optics of the Thackeray cousins sharing a stage mattered as much as the speeches themselves. Whether the display of unity translates into a formal political alliance remains uncertain, but the Shivaji Park gathering has unmistakably reset the tone of Maharashtra’s opposition politics and injected fresh momentum into the debate over Mumbai’s political future.
