Sweet 65 At Matoshree

In a moment that resonated with political symbolism as much as personal warmth, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray visited Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at his residence, Matoshree, on July 27 to wish him on his 65th birthday.

Photographs of the two estranged cousins smiling, embracing, and sharing celebratory moments quickly circulated on social media evoking nostalgia for the era when the Thackeray family stood united at the helm of Maharashtra’s political narrative.

On the surface, the visit may appear to be a simple fraternal gesture. But in the Thackeray household where personal ties have often mirrored political fault lines the meeting carries deeper significance. Coming just weeks after their rare public appearance together at a Marathi pride rally, the encounter is being viewed as another step toward a potential thaw in relations and, perhaps, a broader realignment in the state’s shifting political landscape.

These two public meetings within 30 days carry strong symbolic weight: Raj’s rare entry into Matoshree and the embrace before Bal Thackeray’s portrait resonate deeply with traditional Shiv Sainiks. As one UBT leader said: “no one can separate people from the Thackeray brand… Raj and Uddhav are brothers, so they will meet.” Senior UBT leaders hailed the visit as a familial and political foundation stone: “a foundation for the reunion of two brothers and Maharashtra’s glorious future”

But as Asia's richest municipal body gears up for elections later this year, politicians and pundits are looking at the reunion as a bid to unite for politics. Seen as a chance to reclaim lost ground in Mumbai’s corporation polls, the reunion could also be a calculated strategy using the Marathi identity agitation as a platform; the duo may formalize cooperation before the BMC elections later this year. Their early moves like joint rally, then personal visit, suggest momentum toward a tactical alliance.

Uddhav has praised the meeting as a sign of unity and a new chapter for Maharashtra’s future. Raj Thackeray, however, has played it safe, clarifying the rally was about defending Marathi language, and said any formal alliance would be decided closer to polls.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis dismissed any political undertones, suggesting the meeting was “purely personal,” tied to Uddhav’s birthday. “Raj Thackeray went to wish Uddhav Thackeray on his birthday. It’s a matter of happiness. Why should we view it politically? We also extend our best wishes to Uddhav ji. Going to wish someone on their birthday should not be seen through a political lens,” he said to ANI.

Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction downplayed political motivations, calling it a family interaction.

This brotherly reunion is more than nostalgia. It’s a carefully choreographed political reset. Both leaders are tapping into the legacy of Marathi pride and the emotional resonance of the Thackeray name. Symbolism is strong, but the alliance will only matter if translated into a clear electoral strategy, and executed before Mumbai’s crucial civic elections this year.

“If coordinated well, a Shiv Sena (UBT) + MNS front could consolidate Marathi-centric voters in Mumbai and challenge BJP–Shinde Sena dominance in the BMC polls. But the space between sentiment and strategy remains narrow, and filled with uncertainties,” says a senior AAP politician.