Maharashtra Assembly polls: Raj Thackeray ready for Shiv Sena alliance

Mumbai: MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday said that if needed he and his estranged cousin would join hands for the “benefit of Maharashtra”. He also ruled out the possibility of the BJP even coming close to a simple majority in the Maharashtra Assembly.

“Maharashtra is bigger for me than anybody’s ego. If we brothers need to come together for the benefit of Maharashtra, we will do that. Others do not have to worry about that,” Mr Thackeray said in an interview given to a local television channel.

After the BJP broke its alliance with Shiv Sena, both Mr Uddhav Thackeray and Mr Raj Thackeray have been targeting the BJP and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In fact, Mr Raj Thackeray has publicly claimed that there was an understanding between the BJP and NCP and accordingly both the parties decided to end their alliances with Shiv Sena and Congress. All these developments have led to speculation that the cousins have decided to bury the hatchet and come together.

According to sources, the estranged cousins have had a telephonic conversation regarding the current political situation in the state. A national film award winning Marathi actor is also said to be trying to bring the estranged cousins together.

Mr Raj Thackeray  admitted to havaving received a call from Mr Uddhav Thackeray, but denied having any discussions with him. He said that the Sena chief had called him when he was unwell.

“When he got to know through our maternal uncle that I was unwell, Uddhav had called me to enquire about my health. But at that time I was coughing badly and so I could not speak to him,” he said.

There is also a possibility that if the BJP does not get complete majority on its own, it would prefer to take the help of MNS over Shiv Sena. When asked whether he would support BJP, Mr Thackeray shot back asking, “Who is saying that the BJP will reach close to the majority mark?”