BMC elections 2026: Thackeray cousins came together to ‘save Mumbai’, says Raut

Shiv Sena UBT MP and national spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Saturday said that the coming together of the Thackeray cousins for the BMC elections 2026 is aimed at ldquosaving Mumbairdquo and that their alliance has ldquobuilt trustrdquo among the people of the city reported news agency IANSShiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS chief Raj Thackeray have joined hands to contest the BMC elections 2026 togetherJoint manifesto lsquoVachan Namarsquo unveiledEarlier on Sunday the two parties unveiled their joint manifesto titled lsquoVachan Namarsquo which prominently features photographs of the Thackeray cousins along with Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb ThackeraylsquoMumbai is like a country in itselfrsquo says RautSpeaking to IANS on the significance of the BMC elections 2026 Raut said ldquoThe point is this election is not just about the Thackeray cousins Mumbai is a city that is like a country in itself Mumbai is often referred to as the financial capital of the country and additionally it serves as the capital of Maharashtra And in the capital of Maharashtra Balasaheb Thackeray and the Shiv Sena have always been in powerrdquoShiv Sena confident of retaining dominance in BMCHe further pointed out that while the city has undergone major changes over the past few years the Shiv Senarsquos influence in the civic body remains strongRaut maintained that the party would once again assert its dominance in the BMC as it has done for nearly three decadesHistory of SenaBJP alliance in civic bodyHowever notably the Shiv Sena has never secured an absolute majority on its own in the civic body For most of its tenure in the BMC the party governed Mumbai in alliance with the BJP which remained its junior partner until the two parted ways in 2014ldquoThese elections are being conducted after seven years the entire demography of the state has changed the entire city has changed However Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray have come together to save Mumbairdquo the Shiv Sena UBT leader told IANSlsquoEvery section of Mumbai stands with Shiv SenarsquoldquoShiv Sena has always been there to protect the Maharashtrians Every section of Mumbai is with Shiv Sena Whenever there is a talk about Mumbai its issues and problems that it is facing then everyonersquos first thought is that Shiv Sena will protect usrdquo Raut saidEmphasising the public response to the alliance he added ldquoThackeray cousinsuniting has built a trust in the hearts of peoplerdquoAffordable housing infrastructure push in manifestoMeanwhile in their joint manifesto the Thackeray cousinshave promised affordable housing and major improvements in infrastructure including healthcare facilities public transport and the education sectorThe document also includes welfare measures for women with a proposal to provide a monthly allowance of Rs 1500 to women employed as domestic workers and Koli women under the proposed lsquoSwabhiman Nidhirsquo schemeRaj Thackeray returns to Sena Bhavan after 20 yearsThe manifesto was released at a joint press conference held at Shiv Sena Bhavan an event that marked Raj Thackerayrsquos return to the party headquarters after nearly two decadesRaj Thackeray had quit the Shiv Sena in 2005 following differences with his cousin Uddhav Thackeray over the future leadership of the party after Balasaheb Thackeray handed over the reins to his sonWith inputs from IANS