Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has sharply criticised the newly -announced alliance between Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray, dismissing it as a desperate bid for power rather than a genuine effort for Mumbai’s development.
Reacting to the cousins’ joint press conference on Wednesday, where they formalised their tie-up ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections in January 2026, Shinde accused the duo of being motivated by “self-interest, power, and survival” rather than public welfare. “This alliance is not for Mumbai but for the chair,” he said bluntly. He pointed out that neither leader mentioned any concrete vision for the city’s development during the event.
Shinde further mocked the partnership by comparing Mumbai to a “hen that lays golden eggs,” claiming that Uddhav and Raj had previously exploited the city and were now uniting to “slaughter the hen itself.”
Shinde juxtaposed this with the Mahayuti alliance’s impressive track record, highlighting their recent victories in the Lok Sabha and assembly polls, and cited the defection of hundreds of Opposition workers to his camp as evidence of public rejection.
The Thackeray reunion, after years of rivalry, aims to consolidate Marathi votes and challenge the ruling Mahayuti (BJP-Shinde Sena-NCP) in the high-stakes BMC polls. However, Shinde expressed confidence that voters would once again favour the development-oriented Mahayuti over what he called an opportunistic pact.