Thackeray cousins reunite for Ganpati darshan: Uddhav accepts Raj’s invitation; seen as gesture of political bonhomie

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray is likely to visit MNS chief Raj Thackeray's home for Ganpati darshan on Wednesday. Sena (UBT) functionaries said Raj called Uddhav and invited him for Ganpati darshan during this Ganesh festival. Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut will also visit Raj Thackeray's home. This could be yet another instance of display of bonhomie between the two cousins amid talk of the possibility of them coming together for the civic elections. In July, Raj visited Matoshree, the Thackeray residence in Bandra East, to wish his 'big brother Shiv Sena chief' Uddhav on his birthday. Uddhav welcomed Raj with a warm hug, and Raj gave Uddhav a bouquet of red roses on his birthday. After the courtesies, Raj and Uddhav spoke for close to 20 minutes, and Raj's visit was seen as a cementing factor in the likely MNS-Sena (UBT) alliance. While Raj invites several top netas to his home for Ganpati, he's not known to visit homes. Dy CM Eknath Shinde has visited several homes for Ganpati darshan and his 'Ganpati diplomacy' had earlier created a flutter in political circles. He had in the past visited Shiv Sena (UBT) rivals and old-time loyalists too, like Sena veteran (late) Manohar Joshi and Uddhav Thackeray's PA Milind Narvekar, apart from the homes of Raj Thackeray and BJP's Narayan Rane.