Mumbai: It was an extremely emotional moment for Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray as he entered Shiv Sena Bhavan on Sunday.
It was after almost two decades that he set foot on the premises that he once considered home.
“I feel like I have come out of jail after 20 years because everyone is asking me the same question — how do you feel after coming here after 20 years,” Raj told reporters.
Balasaheb Thackeray’s nephew and Uddhav’s cousin Raj quit the undivided Shiv Sena in November 2005 after feeling ignored, and founded MNS.
Raj recalled his long association with Shiv Sena Bhavan.
“I have very fond memories of Shiv Sena Bhavan. It will take days to narrate those memories,” Raj said, recalling an incident from 1977, when the building was constructed.
After stones were thrown at the building during a Janata Party procession in 1997, “Shiv Sainiks gave a befitting reply” by throwing tube lights on them from above, Raj said.
Now that the Thackeray cousins seem to have resolved their differences, it marks a hugely significant moment in Maharashtra politics. The two leaders announced a pre-poll alliance in December for the upcoming civic body elections in Maharashtra.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS have joined forces for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) poll and elections to 28 other civic bodies, scheduled for January 15. The alliance includes the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party in Mumbai.
Uddhav’s faction is seeking to regain control of India’s richest civic body. The undivided Shiv Sena had ruled the BMC from 1997 until 2022.
