Raj Thackeray visits Uddhav at Matoshree on 65th birthday, first such meet in over 5 years

Public Lokpal
July 27, 2025

Raj Thackeray visits Uddhav at Matoshree on 65th birthday, first such meet in over 5 years


MUMBAI: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday met cousin and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray to wish him on his 65th birthday, the meeting coming amid shifting political dynamics in the state.

While there was buzz over the significance of the meeting ahead of the crucial Mumbai municipal corporation elections, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said no political angle should be ascribed to the cousins getting together for birthday wishes.

Raj drove from his residence Shivteerth in Dadar to Matoshree, Uddhav’s residence in Bandra.

Flanked by his party MP Sanjay Raut, Uddhav received his cousin at the entrance of the Matoshree bungalow, one of the most recognised landmarks in Mumbai.

Raj presented a large bouquet of red roses to his cousin.

“On the occasion of my elder brother, Shiv Sena chief Mr. Uddhav Thackeray's birthday, I visited Matoshri, the residence of the late Honorable Mr. Balasaheb Thackeray, to extend my best wishes,” Raj posted on X.

Uddhav told reporters that his happiness “multiplied manifold” after Raj met him. “He came to Matoshree after many years,” Uddhav said.

Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Fadnavis said “That the two met is a matter of joy. Why should it be viewed from a political angle. He (Raj) went to extend his birthday greetings. Our greetings are also with Uddhav ji.”

“All (are) together. No problem at all,” Raut posted on X, tagging a photo of senior leaders of both the parties flanking the cousins at Matoshree.

At his joint rally with Raj in Mumbai on July 5, Uddhav Thackeray had said he and the MNS chief have “come together to stay together”.

At the "victory" rally, held to celebrate the rollback of the Hindi language GRs (resolutions) by the BJP-led government, the cousins shared a political stage for the first time in almost two decades, on the issue of Marathi identity and "imposition" of the Hindi language.

In July 2012, Raj Thackeray drove Uddhav to Matoshree from Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital, where the latter underwent an angiography.

In January 2019, Raj went to Matoshree and handed over to Uddhav the wedding invitation of his son Amit, who got married later that month.

Raj quit the Shiv Sena in December 2005, claiming that he "sought respect from Matoshree but received humiliation". He formed the MNS the next year.

PTI