Only emotional talks, says Raut on Thackeray cousins’ reunion buzz

Amid speculations on a possible patch-up between estranged cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday clarified that no formal alliance talks are currently underway, only “emotional exchanges” between the two leaders.

“There is no alliance. Only emotional talks are going on,” Raut said. Though he did not entirely rule out the possibility of the two factions coming together in the future and placed the onus on the two brothers for future alliance talks.

“Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray are brothers. We have been together for years. Our relationship has not broken. Both brothers will decide what comes next,” Raut said. “We accept what Uddhav Ji has said. If coming together is necessary for Maharashtra, we will.”Nearly two decades following their acrimonious dispute, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday had said that he is ready to bury the hatchet.

Interacting with filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar, Raj said, “For me, the interest of Maharashtra is bigger while everything else is secondary I can keep aside our minor disputes.”

“I am ready to work with Uddhav, but the question is whether he is willing to work with me,” he added.

Moments later, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray reached out to his brother and said that he was also ready to set aside their differences and work towards the people of the state and Marathi language.

However, he urged Raj Thackeray to distance himself from “anti-Maharashtra” forces in a veiled dig at the BJP.

Echoing Uddhav Thackeray’s sentiments, Raut on Sunday told reporters, “Uddhav Ji said there are a few parties who claim to be Maharashtra’s well-wishers but are actually its enemies. They broke Bala Saheb’s Shiv Sena to attack the pride of Maharashtra. We shouldn’t have any relations, then only we can be true Maharashtrians. This is not a condition, but the sentiment of the people of Maharashtra.”

India