Thackeray Cousins Reunite After 20 Years for Mumbai Civic Polls

• Uddhav Thackeray and cousin Raj Thackeray announced an alliance for upcoming municipal elections, 20 years after Raj left Shiv Sena.
• The alliance aims to consolidate the Marathi nationalist space, prevent vote splits, and ensure the "saffron flag" continues in BMC and other corporations.
• Senior Sena leader Sanjay Raut called it an "auspicious beginning" for the Thackeray brothers to lead civic politics.
• Uddhav Thackeray emphasized protecting Mumbai from those trying to "destroy" it, while Raj Thackeray stated "Maharashtra is bigger than any misunderstanding."
• The reunion could challenge the Eknath Shinde faction's claim to Bal Thackeray's legacy and make civic polls more competitive, potentially impacting BJP.

Why It Matters: Uddhav and Raj Thackeray's reunion after 20 years aims to dominate Mumbai civic polls and consolidate Marathi votes.