BMC polls: Devendra Fadnavis likens Thackeray cousins' bonhomie to ‘Putin-Zelenskyy’ peace talks; rivals calls hype 'manufactured'

MUMBAI: The political reunion of the estranged Thackeray cousins ahead of the BMC polls has triggered sharp reactions across Maharashtra’s political spectrum, with the ruling Mahayuti likening the tie-up to a “Putin–Zelensky moment” and dismissing it as hype, while supporters call it “historic”. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the alliance between Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) was being portrayed as if Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had come together, arguing that the political relevance of the reunion was being overstated. “They are trying to create hype as if something as historic as peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are taking place, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Vladimir Putin finally sitting across the table,” Fadnavis told reporters.

Even as the Mahayuti questioned the impact of the alliance, Thackeray loyalists hailed the coming together of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray as a turning point that could revive the “son of the soil” ideology in Mumbai politics ahead of the civic polls. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday called for Marathi unity after his party announced an alliance with the MNS for the upcoming BMC elections, scheduled to be held on January 15, with results to be declared the next day.

In a post on X, Raj Thackeray said the alliance was not merely about seat sharing but about “burying the forces that are today attempting to erase the existence of the Marathi people in Mumbai and its surroundings, and tomorrow in other parts of the state”. The MNS chief also asserted that Mumbai’s mayor would be a Marathi person. “The mayor of Mumbai will be a Marathi and will be ours,” Raj Thackeray said while addressing a press conference along with his cousin Uddhav. Uddhav Thackeray, meanwhile, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of dividing Marathi voters during the assembly elections. “During the assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party engaged in negative campaigning. With the slogan ‘If we divide, we will be cut,’ an attempt was made to sow discord among the Marathi people. Now, if a mistake has been made, its consequences will be serious. If division happens again, we will be finished.

Therefore, the Marathi people should not break, should not divide,” he said. As the cousins joined hands, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said the Congress must also come together to defeat the BJP. “We have urged the Congress many times that if we have to defeat the BJP, we must come together,” Raut told reporters. When asked about seat-sharing between Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS, Raut declined to comment. “In politics, number sharing is a business. Here, there is no business among brothers.

This is a family. We will see what we have to do,” he said. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Mahayuti, calling it “Mahajhoothi” and accusing it of treating politics as a tool for power rather than public service. Speaking to news agency ANI, she alleged that the ruling alliance had failed to work for people and had “looted the treasury”. “We will work towards eliminating the troubles caused to people by this Mahajhoothi gathbandhan.

BMC elections haven't been held for the last 3.5 years. They have looted the treasury, and no work has been done for the people. We will bring these issues to the fore and gain the trust of the people,” Chaturvedi said. “This is not Mahayuti, but Mahajhoothi. They have come only for money and power. For us, politics is a means of public service. For them, politics means only to grab power. People understand this,” she added. Chaturvedi also described the reunion of the Thackeray brothers as “historic”. “It is a historic moment, and we will head towards a historic victory when these two brothers announce the alliance of their parties. This is the need of the hour,” she said. Reacting sharply, Chief Minister Fadnavis accused both Uddhav and Raj Thackeray of abandoning ideology and indulging in opportunistic politics. “Nothing will happen with their coming together. Nobody will join hands with them in Mumbai.

Their track record is one of corruption and self-interest. Uddhav and Raj have no ideological positioning. They indulge in the politics of opportunism,” he said. He also dismissed Uddhav Thackeray’s remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. “Uddhav Thackeray is a disappointed and frustrated person. I feel that his statements shouldn't be given any attention,” Fadnavis said. Fadnavis further argued that both Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS had weakened themselves due to “appeasement politics”. “These are parties that have lost relevance due to their inclination towards appeasement politics and have lost their support base. Their coming together offers no benefit to the people,” he added. Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC also expressed confidence that the Mahayuti would emerge victorious and that the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) would be wiped out. “History will be made because the victory of Mahayuti will be such that nothing will remain of this Mahavinash Aghadi. For selfish reasons, you can do anything, form alliances, and then make big talks. I want to ask what you have done for the Marathi people? Our leader, Eknath Shinde, has given 17,000 houses to the Marathi people and provided many schemes. We will continue to work in the direction of progress,” she told news agency ANI. Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat said the alliance was born out of “helplessness” as Congress and Sharad Pawar’s party were unwilling to join hands with Uddhav Thackeray. “If these people had real strength, why did they suffer such a crushing defeat in the recent municipal council elections? This alliance is formed today due to majboori, as Congress is not with Uddhav Thackeray, and Sharad Pawar is not with them, so they need someone or the other.

Just as a drowning man clings to a straw, in the same way, they (Uddhav Thackeray) want to take the support of Raj Thackeray. However, I don't think this will benefit them much,” Shirsat said. The State Election Commission has announced elections to 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including the BMC, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). Polling will be held on January 15, with counting scheduled for January 16.(With agency inputs)