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Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut stated on Sunday that an alliance between his party chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) head Raj Thackeray is essential, claiming it would “give a new direction to the state,” reported news agency PTI.

In his weekly column, Rok Thok, in the Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana, Raut also alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has no genuine concern for the fight for Maharashtra’s unity and Marathi asmita (pride).

“The BJP’s policy is to first loot Mumbai, then make Mumbai a union territory and play a game for a separate Vidarbha and finish the existence of Maharashtra,” he claimed.

Moreover, Sanjay Raut recalled that people have not forgotten Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis previously carrying placards with the message: ‘Vidarbha is my only state’ during agitations in Nagpur, according to PTI.

The Rajya Sabha member further alleged that if the unity of the Thackeray cousins and their leadership does not remain intact, then Mumbai will be “swallowed by Adani-Lodha,” and one day it will no longer be part of Maharashtra.

Moreover, in April, MNS leader Raj Thackeray sparked speculation about a potential political rapprochement with his cousin Uddhav Thackeray, noting their past differences were “trivial” and that uniting for the greater good of Marathi manoos (Marathi people) was “not a difficult task.”

The buzz strengthened when Uddhav Thackeray stated he was ready to set aside “trivial fights” provided that those working against Maharashtra’s interests would not be entertained – a veiled reference to Raj hosting Shiv Sena head and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his residence, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, on 5th July, Uddhav Thackeray declared that he and his cousin Raj Thackeray had “come together to stay together,” while sharing the political stage with the MNS chief for the first time in almost 20 years. This reunion occurred after the BJP-led state government withdrew two Government Resolutions (GRs) concerning the introduction of the Hindi language for students from Class 1.

Raut claimed that the coming together of cousins Raj and Uddhav on 5th July gave confidence to the Marathi manoos.

“This does not mean all issues of Marathi manoos have been resolved. The issues troubling the Marathi manoos remain as they are. Thackeray brothers came together against the imposition of Hindi, but the political alliance (between the two parties) is yet to be announced. It is necessary that there is an alliance. Only then Maharashtra will get a new direction,” he asserted. Furthermore, he insisted that if anyone has the illusion that the Thackerays will succumb to any kind of pressure, “then they are fools,” PTI reported.

Raut claimed the unity of the Thackeray brothers has “rattled the rulers in Delhi and in Maharashtra,” a clear reference to the BJP.

Meanwhile, CM Fadnavis “heats up the political atmosphere by meeting Raj,” the Sena (UBT) leader said, adding that the MNS president would speak on this and clear any confusion.

CM Fadnavis and Raj Thackeray had met at a hotel in Mumbai last month. Raut concluded that the Marathi manoos must first fight a battle for Mumbai and Thane, an oblique reference to retaining power in the civic bodies of the two neighbouring cities, for which polls are likely to be held later this year.

(With inputs from PTI)