Even as Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray held a ”victory rally” over the cancelled Government Resolution making Hindi compulsory from Class One, the Congress stayed away but denied it boycotted the event. The Uddhav Sena said it had invited the Congress for the rally but does not hold a grudge against the party.

The Sharad Pawar-led NCP(SP) however made its presence felt with two of its top leaders attending the event and even gracing the stage. Supriya Sule, Baramati MP and MLA Jitendra Awhad were present. In fact, Supriya Sule was seen on stage bringing Aaditya and Amit Thackeray together for a photo op. Sule and Awhad were invited on stage by Raj Thackeray at the end of the event. Except for this, only Uddhav and Raj occupied the stage.

”We did not boycott the rally… Since it was a victory rally for Marathas, we supported it. Congress has been at the forefront of protecting the interest of Marathas. When Congress ruled the state, it ensured progress of Maharashtra and Marathas,” said state Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe.

Asked whether the Congress had a problem with Raj Thackeray, Londhe said, “No, we have no problem with the MNS chief… They had invited Marathas from all parties.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut denied that the Sena was upset as the top leaders from Maharashtra Congress stayed away their rally. “We had invited the MPCC chief for the event but we learnt that he was in Delhi and therefore could not make it. Though top leaders of Congress were not present, some Congress leaders did attend the rally…We are not upset with the Congress leadership,” Raut told The Indian Express after the rally.

Asked whether the Sena and MNS tie up will have any impact on Maha Vikas Aghadi, Raut said, “I don’t think so… MVA and INDIA bloc are intact. But I don’t know what is going to happen in the future.”

Raut said the people of Maharashtra have brought the two leaders together. “Now discussion has begun on whether the two will contest elections together. The two brother will take a call… The elections which will be held in the near future are of the local self-government bodies. These elections are fought differently,” he said.

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On Saturday, Raut said It wasn’t just the Thackeray brothers but Thackeray families that have come together. ”Now they will come together in the political terrain as well,” he said.

Raut said they don’t recognise the party led by Eknath Shinde. “They are surviving on Amit Shah and BJP. No matter how much he drives, he will not succeed in dividing us…. Maharashtra’s Muslims are with us,” he said.

After the rally, Raj Thackeray expressed regret, saying that during his speech he forgot to mention those who stood behind Marathas in their fight against making Hindi compulsory. In a social media post, Raj said, “The State Government had bowed before the Marathas who fought against the imposition of Hindi. Today, a victory rally in this regard was held. During my speech, I forgot to take certain names… Marathi television channels, Marathi newspapers and those organisations which work for Marathi, besides several pressure groups, all stood by us during our fight. I want to thank each one of them. This unity for Marathi self-respect should remain in tact.”

Reacting to the rally, RPI (A) leader Ramdas Athawale said, “No one votes for MNS chief Raj Thackeray while Eknath Shinde has stunned Uddhav Thackeray during the elections. I welcome both the brothers coming together but this is going to benefit the BJP-led Mahayuti… I have also urged Prakash Ambedkar to join hands but he has given a negative reply.”