Thackeray Cousins Unite: Uddhav and Raj to Lead Historic Mumbai March for Students on July 26
In a rare display of family unity that could reshape Maharashtra’s opposition politics, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray have joined hands to lead a joint protest march in Mumbai on July 26.
The Thackeray cousins announced the “Tiranga March” during a joint press conference on July 23, expressing solidarity with students protesting the NEET paper leak and condemning alleged police excesses against demonstrators in Delhi.The march will begin at the iconic Shivaji Park in Dadar and culminate at the Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi. Organisers have stressed that no political flags will be carried, only the national tricolour, underscoring that the agitation is about students’ rights rather than party politics
The Thackeray leaders sharply criticised the Centre’s response to the youth-led protests. They accused the government of using force instead of dialogue and demanded accountability for the handling of peaceful demonstrators. Uddhav and Raj, along with their sons Aaditya and Amit, appeared together, signalling a deliberate coming together after years of political distance.
Why this joint appearance matters
The cousins’ decision to march side by side is highly significant. Their long-standing rivalry had kept Maharashtra’s Marathi strongman politics divided. By uniting on an issue that resonates with young people and parents across the state, they present a broader, more credible front. The move amplifies the students’ voice beyond Delhi, brings the agitation into India’s financial capital, and puts pressure on the ruling establishment in both Mumbai and New Delhi.A combined Thackeray presence is expected to draw larger crowds, generate greater media attention, and force the student protest narrative into the national spotlight. It also raises the possibility of future coordination on other issues, potentially strengthening the opposition’s challenge in Maharashtra.
As thousands prepare to walk from Shivaji Park to Siddhivinayak on Sunday, the message is clear: when the Thackeray cousins stand together, Maharashtra listens – and the Centre may be forced to do an overhaul.
JANPATH NEWS NETWORK (JNN)
Independent. Fearless. On the People’s Path.
