As the junior Thackeray cousins Aaditya and Amit warm up to the idea of an alliance, all eyes are now on Uddhav and Raj Thackeray — on whether they are willing to bury decades-old differences and unite for the cause of Maharashtra and the Marathi people.

On Thursday, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray’s son, Amit, stated that it’s up to the two brothers — Raj and Uddhav — to pick up the phone and talk if an alliance is to happen. “Alliances don’t happen through media soundbites or newspaper interviews,” Amit said, responding to a query about possible tie-up talks between MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT).

MNS leader Amit Thackeray (in maroon shirt). File pic/Ashish Raje; (right) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray. File pic/Kirti Surve Parade