In a strategic shift ahead of the Mumbai civic polls, estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray appear to be reuniting. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday hinted at a thaw in their long-standing rivalry, announcing that the two leaders will now jointly lead a protest against what they call the “imposition” of Hindi in Maharashtra’s school curriculum.
Amid the growing uproar over Maharashtra’s new three-language policy in schools, Raj and Uddhav are gearing up to intensify their resistance. The policy is widely perceived as a veiled attempt to enforce Hindi on students across the state.
Raut also shared photos of the Thackeray cousins, signalling a rare show of unity. While both parties had initially planned separate protests, they have now decided to march together, marking a significant moment in Maharashtra’s political landscape.
“There will be one unified march against making Hindi compulsory in Maharashtra schools. Thackeray is the brand,” Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut posted on X.
जय महाराष्ट्र!
“There will be a single and united march against compulsory Hindi in Maharashtra schools. Thackeray is the brand!”
@Dev_Fadnavis
@AmitShah pic.twitter.com/tPv6q15Hwv— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) June 27, 2025
The protest march is now set for July 7, with Raut stating that the date was chosen to avoid a clash with Ashadi Ekadashi celebrations.
“A united protest will make a bigger impact,” Raut said, urging all parties and groups to come together against the Hindi imposition.
The original July 6 date was shifted to avoid overlapping with Ashadi Ekadashi.
Raut said that both MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) will coordinate to finalise the protest’s timing and place.
This united morcha will bring significant change in Maharashtra. Sanyukta Maharashtra 2.0 will be remembered because of this march,” said MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande.
On Monday, School Education Minister Dada Bhuse met Raj Thackeray to explain the government’s rationale behind the three-language rule. “We shared the government’s perspective on the policy, but Rajsaheb remains firm in his stand,” Bhuse told reporters.
Raj Thackeray reiterated his unwavering stance:
“There will be no party flags—just one agenda: to oppose the state’s push for Hindi. I urge all political parties to join the morcha for Marathi, setting differences aside.”
The controversy stems from the Mahayuti government’s April decision to adopt the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which includes a three-language model. Initially, Hindi was required as the third language. Following the backlash, the government revised the decision, making Hindi optional. Critics, however, call it a “tactical retreat,” warning it could still lead to Hindi imposition indirectly. The NEP mandates two Indian languages, one of which must be regional.
Despite increasing criticism, the government has not reversed its stance. On Monday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis chaired a review meeting with Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. They agreed that future steps would involve consultation with stakeholders, including the opposition.
Meanwhile, the coordination committee met Uddhav Thackeray at his Matoshree home in Bandra and jointly announced the July 7 protest. Speaking on the issue, Uddhav said: “I urge all Marathi-speaking citizens—actors, athletes, artists—to join us in this fight. We are not against Hindi or any language. Our protest is against the forced imposition of any language on young minds.”
