Mumbai: In a show of strength ahead of the January 15 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, estranged cousins Raj and Uddhav Thackeray reunited on Sunday, framing the polls as a "last stand" for Marathi identity and issuing stern warnings against the imposition of Hindi.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray directed a fiery warning at migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar regarding linguistic dominance. "People from UP and Bihar should understand that Hindi is not your language. I do not hate the language. But if you try to impose it, I will kick you," Raj stated, framing the election as a decisive moment for the "Marathi manoos."
"If land and language are gone, you will be finished," Raj warned the crowd, asserting that outside forces were attempting to snatch resources from Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray echoed these sentiments, stating that their political reunion was forced by an "existential threat" to Mumbai. Both leaders launched a scathing attack on the BJP, accusing the ruling party of "looting" Mumbai to favour the Adani Group and attempting to align the city’s economy with Gujarat.
Uddhav also targeted the BJP’s ideological stance, accusing the party of practicing "fake Hindutva" and questioning their intent regarding Mumbai's status as a Marathi city versus an "international city."