Mumbai: The Thackeray cousins, Uddhav and Raj, will address 7 to 8 joint rallies for the Municipal Corporation elections in a blitz campaign from Jan 2 to 13. Sena (UBT) functionaries said at least 3 rallies will be held in Mumbai for the BMC polls in the last phase of the campaign to end the electioneering a high note. One joint rally each in the city, western, and eastern suburbs of Mumbai is planned. Similar joint rallies will be held in Thane, Kalyan Dombivli, Nashik, Navi Mumbai, and other parts of the MMR.Sena (UBT) functionaries said joint rallies will be the highlight of their campaign, and both cousins are expected to strike an emotional chord with voters on the Marathi Manoos issue and attack the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Sena. The rallies have been planned even as talks to finalise the seat sharing between Sena (UBT) and MNS are still ongoing. The joint rallies will be held after the December 30 deadline for filing nominations and withdrawal of nomination dates.Sena (UBT) functionaries said under the proposed formula, the Sena (UBT) will get 145 to 150 seats, 65 to 70 seats will go to MNS, and 10 to 12 seats to NCP (SP). The Sena (UBT) has left 12 to 15 of its existing seats for the MNS. In most of these 12 seats, their sitting corporators have joined the Shinde-led Sena or BJP.“We have planned the rallies as the main highlight of our campaign. The two cousins will share the stage and address rallies after 20 years. So far, they have addressed meetings and press conferences together, but not political rallies. So this will have a big impact, and it will mobilise our cadre and also help in upping the ante against the Mahayuti,” a Sena (UBT) functionary said.After several rounds of talks, meetings, family gatherings, and cultural exchanges, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS announced a formal alliance for the BMC and other Municipal Corporation polls, including Nashik, on Wednesday. The two Thackeray cousins, Uddhav and Raj, addressed a joint press conference to make the announcement in Worli. Both Uddhav and Raj struck an emotional chord. Uddhav told the Marathi people, “If you get divided or make any mistake now, you will be completely finished.“Uddhav said the two of them have come together as their duty towards Maharashtra. Raj said Maharashtra is bigger than any dispute or fight, and that is why they have come together. However, no seat-sharing formula was shared, and Raj said that the list of candidates or seat-sharing formula won’t be declared, and candidates will directly be told to file their nominations.
