NEW DELHI: The much-anticipated reunion of Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray—scions of the Shiv Sena’s founding family—has set Maharashtra’s political landscape abuzz, raising both hope and apprehension. On Saturday in Mumbai the unification of both factions of old shivsena have sent strong symbolic ripples across the state, the Congress party’s conspicuous absence from the event highlighted deeper strategic calculations and growing discomfort within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.
Held with much fanfare, the event was attended by a diverse spectrum of leaders and public figures. Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Supriya Sule, leaders of Left parties, prominent farmer union representatives, progressive academics, and civil society activists gathered in full strength to witness what many viewed as a historic reconciliation between the estranged cousins. Political observers likened the moment to the spirit of the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement of the 1950s—a time of powerful regional assertion that eventually led to the formation of the modern state in 1960.
However, the Congress party—an integral partner of the MVA coalition in Maharashtra—chose to stay away. None of its top leadership was present, and the message from within was mixed. While senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan downplayed the development, assuring that the party’s relationship with Uddhav Thackeray and his faction of the Shiv Sena remained firm, the lack of participation told a different story.
According to Congress insiders, the hesitation stemmed from Raj Thackeray’s controversial political legacy. As founder of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Raj had built his political brand around aggressive regionalism and a hardline stance against North Indian migrants—an image that the Congress, with its pan-Indian appeal, finds difficult to reconcile with. While Raj has recently moderated his tone and rhetoric, many in the Congress remain wary of being associated with his earlier positions.
For Congress strategists at the national level, the optics of being seen alongside Raj Thackeray may pose risks ahead of key elections, particularly in northern states where the party is seeking revival. At the same time, the strengthening of ties between Uddhav and Raj raises questions about the balance of power within the MVA and the future of its cohesion.
What remains to be seen is whether this Thackeray unification is merely symbolic or will evolve into a concrete political front. If the latter, it could potentially sideliner Congress in Maharashtra’s opposition politics, especially if regional forces attempt to carve a third path distinct from both the BJP and Congress-dominated blocs.
For now, the Congress’s absence has not gone unnoticed—and its silence could prove costlier than it appears.
Writer is Senior Journalist and Political Commentator
