Uddhav, Raj Thackeray’s joint rally overshadowed by attack on Sushil Kedia’s office

Mumbai: As estranged Thackeray cousins Uddhav and Raj take the public stage together in Mumbai today for a "mega victory gathering", their first in two decades, their brand of language politics appears to be finding few takers. 

The much-hyped rally, currently underway at the NSCI Dome in Worli, comes even as Raj Thackeray’s supporters allegedly vandalised the office of investor Sushil Kedia in the city’s Worli area this morning.

Maharashtra: MNS workers vandalized businessman Sushil Kedia’s office after he posted on X refusing to learn Marathi and tagging MNS chief Raj Thackeray pic.twitter.com/RSVocFIF0I

— IANS (@ians_india) July 5, 2025

Kedia, who had publicly declared he would not learn Marathi and had challenged Raj Thackeray on social media, approached the police after receiving threats. Despite police protection at his office near Century Bazar, a group of individuals arrived in the morning, threw stones, and raised slogans in support of Marathi and Raj Thackeray.

"I don’t know Marathi properly even after living for 30 years in Mumbai. With your gross misconduct, I have resolved that until such people as you are allowed to pretend to be taking care of Marathi Manus, I won’t learn Marathi. Kya karna hai bol?" Kedia had posted on X.

The Thackeray cousins' rally is being held to celebrate the Maharashtra government's rollback of the three-language policy in primary schools. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray, whose parties are known for aggressively pushing Marathi identity and language, have united on stage ahead of the crucial local body polls, including the cash-rich Mumbai civic corporation.

The last time the two cousins shared a stage was during the 2005 Malvan assembly bypoll campaign. Raj Thackeray left Shiv Sena later that year to form MNS.

The rally comes at a time when both Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS are struggling with diminished electoral influence, after poor results in the 2024 state assembly elections, Sena (UBT) won 20 seats, MNS drew a blank. Despite the symbolic gesture of unity, their joint celebration is marred by incidents of intimidation and violence. Only recently, MNS activists were caught on camera assaulting a food stall owner for not speaking in Marathi, while others were made to apologise in front of Sena (UBT) leader Rajan Vichare for allegedly assaulting someone.

Congress, an ally of Sena (UBT), is not attending today’s celebration, though it supports the protest against making Hindi mandatory for Classes 1–5. NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar, also part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), cited prior commitments for his absence, though other NCP (SP) leaders are expected.

On the ground, Sena (UBT) and MNS cadres are visibly energised, celebrating the withdrawal of two government resolutions (GRs) on the three-language policy, a move that followed mounting opposition. The cousins claim the government blinked in the face of Maharashtrian unity. On Friday, activists in Thane distributed sweets and held symbolic prayers for Thackeray unity.

While the event is billed as a celebration, today’s attack on Kedia’s office and recent incidents raise uncomfortable questions about the price of language politics and the real motives behind this show of unity.