Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena (UBT) has warned that the Thackeray family can still get Mumbai shut down within a few minutes. This shows the strength of one of the most powerful families of Maharashtra, which despite the electoral defeat, is maintaining its hold in the politics of the state. The Rajya Sabha MP said that the Thackeray family can never be eliminated. We can still get Mumbai shut down in 10 minutes.
An hour later in the same program, Maharashtra Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said that Shiv Sena (UBT) leader's hollow threats were ignored. CM Fadnavis said that he had said that he will not allow Eknath Shinde to enter Mumbai. But, he came with 50 MLAs and went to Raj Bhavan and formed the government. When Bal Thackeray was alive, this (closure) could have happened. But these people cannot do this now.
This statement of Sanjay Raut has come before the important elections of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC elections 2026). Recently, after a long gap of 20 years, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray met again. Sanjay Raut said that Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray are brothers. Their mothers are sisters. It was a family matter. I am a friend of both sides. If I had any role in their reunion, I consider myself lucky.
On ideological differences between the two cousins, he recalled previous political moves when Shiv Sena had united with the Congress despite differing opinions on the Hindutva-secular agenda. Sanjay Raut said that their (Thackeray brothers) ideologies may be different, but they have shown unity by giving priority to the country and stressed the need for compromise for such an alliance.
Sanjay Raut said that for the alliance to take place, Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena will have to compromise on some issues, and also said that politics of enmity will break the country. He pointed out that the meeting of Thackeray brothers is very important for the idea of Maharashtra. He said that Thackeray Brothers is a brand. If Thackeray remains alive, Marathi man will remain alive.
