‘Balasaheb Must Be Blessing Me’: Fadnavis ‘Thanks’ Raj Thackeray For Reunion With Uddhav

Last Updated:July 05, 2025, 18:43 IST

In a veiled swipe at Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he delivered a "rudali" (professional mourner) like speech at joint rally.

He "thanked" MNS president Raj Thackeray for crediting him in reuniting the two Thackeray cousins. (File)

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday took a sarcastic jibe at Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray for his remark that the BJP leader played a crucial role in reuniting the estranged cousins– Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray– after two decades.

He “thanked" the MNS president for crediting him in reuniting the two brothers and said that Balasaheb Thackeray must be blessing him for the task which according to Raj Thackeray, even Balasaheb couldn’t achieve.

“I am thankful to Raj Thackeray for giving me credit for bringing them together. Balasaheb Thackeray must be blessing me," he said while interacting with the media persons.

The Chief Minister further took a veiled swipe at Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and said that while the Thackeray cousins organised the rally to celebrate Marathi, Uddhav chose to speak about politics ‘out of frustration’.

“It was a victory rally for the Marathi language, but Uddhav Thackeray chose to speak about politics and how he was ousted from power. He delivered a “rudali" (professional mourner) like speech. He is speaking out of frustration, as they have nothing to show despite ruling the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for over 25 years," Fadnavis added as quoted by news agency PTI.

"Rudali" refers to a female professional mourner in certain regions, particularly in Rajasthan, where they were hired to publicly express grief during funerals, especially in upper-caste families.

Fadnavis said no word was spoken about Marathi at the event and the speech (delivered by Uddhav) focused on how his government was toppled and how they can regain power.

“The rally was not Vijay utsav but a ’rudali’ darshan," the Chief Minister said.

"Conversely, under Modi’s leadership, we have transformed Mumbai. We gave Marathi people their rightful homes at BDD and Patra chawls (tenements), which made them (Uddhav-led) jealous," he said.

The chief minister said he was proud to be Marathi and Hindu. "All Marathi and non-Marathi people are with us".

Thackeray Cousins’ Reunion

Earlier today, In a rare show of unity, the Thackeray cousins shared the stage for the first time in two decades at the Awaj Marathicha rally in Mumbai to celebrate the rollback of the controversial Hindi language policy in primary schools in Maharashtra.

While addressing the joint rally at the NSCI Dome in Worli, Raj Thackeray said, “Chief Minister Fadnavis managed to do what Balasaheb Thackeray could not – bring me and Uddhav together."

Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday asserted that he and his cousin have “come together to stay together".

“Raj, I and everyone else here is united. We have come together to stay together," he said, saying that they will capture power in the Mumbai civic body and Maharashtra together.

The language row came when the Maharashtra government issued an order in April to make Hindi as the compulsory third language for students in their primary classes. It was met with large opposition and political pressure, which led to a withdrawal recently.

(With inputs from agencies)

Pandharpur, India, India

News politics ‘Balasaheb Must Be Blessing Me’: Fadnavis ‘Thanks’ Raj Thackeray For Reunion With Uddhav