Category: Featured

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responded with pointed sarcasm on Saturday to the much-hyped ‘Voice of Marathi’ rally, which saw Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray sharing a political stage for the first time since their 2005 split. Referring to MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s comment that Fadnavis had done what even Bal Thackeray couldn’t — bring the cousins together — the BJP leader quipped, “Balasaheb must be showering blessings on me.” Mocking the nature of Uddhav Thackeray’s speech, Fadnavis said, “I was told it would be a ‘vijay rally’ but it turned into a ‘rudali’ (mourning) speech. Instead of speaking for the Marathi cause, it became all about how his government was toppled.” Backdrop: Rally Over Rollback of Language Policy The rally was held to celebrate the Maharashtra government’s withdrawal of orders related to the three-language formula, which had triggered protests over alleged ‘Hindi imposition’. The opposition had criticized the policy as an attack on Marathi identity. In a dramatic moment at the event, Raj and Uddhav Thackeray hugged and raised hands together, symbolizing a possible thaw in their decades-old rift. In his speech, Raj Thackeray declared, “What Bal Thackeray could not do, Devendra Fadnavis has done — brought us together.” He also sent a warning to the government: “You may have power in the Vidhan Bhawan, but we have power on the roads.” Uddhav Slams BJP, Shinde; Raj Rallies Marathi Pride Uddhav Thackeray, speaking after Raj, said the “distance” between the cousins had been bridged. He launched a scathing attack on the BJP and Eknath Shinde, calling the 2022 rebellion that toppled his government a betrayal of the Marathi mandate. He labelled Shinde a “gaddar” (traitor) and accused the ruling BJP-Shinde alliance of disrespecting the Marathi language and people. Fadnavis Hits Back Fadnavis, speaking to reporters after the event, didn’t hold back. He ridiculed Uddhav’s emotional tone and accused the Shiv Sena (UBT) of using the Marathi cause as a political shield:“It was less about Marathi and more about mourning their lost power. It felt like watching a ‘rudali darshan’.” He also criticized the Shiv Sena’s legacy in Mumbai’s governance:“They had control over the BMC for 25 years and delivered nothing. Under PM Modi’s leadership, BJP has changed Mumbai’s face and stood firmly with the Marathi ‘manoos’.” Political Implications The public reunion of the Thackeray cousins has fueled speculation about a new alignment ahead of the 2025 Maharashtra assembly elections. However, Fadnavis’ biting sarcasm and assertion of BJP’s developmental narrative signal that the battle for Marathi identity and political ground is far from settled. With Raj and Uddhav presenting a united front and Fadnavis doubling down on BJP’s achievements, Maharashtra’s political arena is poised for intense confrontations in the coming months.