Uddhav, Raj Thackeray say ready to keep aside ‘minor differences’ for Maharashtra’s interests

Estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray on Saturday said that they were ready to keep aside their “minor differences” for the larger interest of Maharashtra, The Indian Express reported.

Uddhav Thackeray, a former chief minister, heads the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), while Raj Thackeray heads the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

In 2005, Raj Thackeray had quit the then-undivided Shiv Sena after party founder Bal Thackeray named his son Uddhav as his successor. A year later, Raj Thackeray launched the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

On Saturday, he said in a podcast with filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar: “For me, the interest of Maharashtra is bigger while everything else is secondary. I can keep aside our minor disputes.”

He said that was ready to work with Uddhav Thackeray, and the only question was whether the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief was ready to work with him too.

“When major issues arise, the disputes and quarrels between us are small,” India Today quoted Raj Thackeray as saying. “For Maharashtra and the Marathi people, the conflicts between us are insignificant.”

Later in the day, Uddhav Thackeray also said that he was ready to put aside their disputes for the sake of Maharashtra. “I am also ready to set aside the small quarrels and come together in the interest of the Marathi community,” he said.

However, he added:...

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