Raj Thackeray backtracks on Mahayuti: Accuses Eknath Shinde of Betraying Shiv Sena, Criticizes Uddhav, and Sharad Pawar

MNS chief Raj Thackeray launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday, as the Maharashtra assembly election heats up. Speaking in Thane, Raj accused Shinde of betraying the Shiv Sena by splitting the party and leading 41 MLAs away in 2022, under the pretext of opposing Ajit Pawar, only to later form an alliance with him in the Mahayuti government. Notably, Raj refrained from criticizing the BJP directly in this speech, focusing instead on Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray, while asserting that the Shiv Sena’s iconic bow-and-arrow symbol belongs to neither Shinde nor Uddhav but to the legacy of his uncle, Balasaheb Thackeray.

Raj’s son, Amit Thackeray, is also contesting in the closely watched Mahim seat, where Shiv Sena MLA Sada Sarvankar has refused to step down, intensifying the race. Raj’s speech marked the launch of his election campaign in Kalyan Rural, where he was supporting the party’s only sitting MLA, Pramod Patil.

Continuing his criticism of Uddhav Thackeray, Raj accused him of going against the 2019 election mandate, pointing to Uddhav’s decision to enter into an alliance with the Congress and NCP. Raj questioned Uddhav’s failure to object when the BJP publicly declared Devendra Fadnavis as the CM candidate during rallies attended by PM Narendra Modi, despite Uddhav being present at those events.

Raj also targeted NCP chief Sharad Pawar, claiming that he had pioneered the trend of party splits in Maharashtra, leading to the erosion of political stability in the state. “These elected representatives and parties have mocked our votes since 2019,” Raj said at another rally in Thane, criticizing the shifting political alliances that have left voters uncertain about who is truly in power. He warned that unless voters begin questioning their leaders, politicians will continue to take them for granted. He stressed that the cost of basic necessities like milk, power, and water is increasingly tied to political decisions, making the upcoming election crucial for the state’s future.

Raj’s concerns extended to local issues as well, especially in Thane, which he claimed had been stripped of its scenic beauty due to unchecked development and the influence of the builders' lobby. He criticized the “inefficient” governance that allows multiple civic bodies to operate within a single district, which he said had stretched infrastructure and strained law enforcement. Raj also raised concerns about overcrowding in areas like Mumbra, blaming unregulated migration—particularly the potential inflow of Bangladeshi migrants—for putting further pressure on local resources.​