In a strongly worded editorial carried by the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana, Uddhav was called a “modern-day Duryodhan,” making a dramatic comparison with the classic character from the Mahabharata who was infamous for denying rightful claims to power. The family feud flares up.The age-old animosity between Uddhav and Raj Thackeray has been the talk of the town for years. Raj was considered a natural heir to Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, but he quit the party in 2006 amid differences over succession at the top. He then floated the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). The latest attack rekindles that old theme, hinting that Uddhav actively pushed aside Raj to establish his own leadership, The editorial asserted that Raj had at one point demonstrated great organizational skills and mass popularity, but Uddhav was “insecure” regarding his cousin’s popularity and influence. “Had Raj Thackeray been given his due, the Shiv Sena’s legacy would have evolved differently,” the article contended.Political commentators are of the view that this attack is more than mere family drama—it’s a planned maneuver before the coming elections. With coalitions breaking and the Thackeray family’s grip on voters still powerful in Maharashtra, the BJP and the Shinde group could be attempting to bifurcate votes or brand Uddhav as someone who values individual dominance over party expansion.Uddhav Thackeray has yet to respond to the editorial, but his own partymen in the Shiv Sena (UBT) have called it a “desperate attempt” at deflecting people’s attention away from issues of substance. “Bringing mythology into the political sphere demonstrates how desperate they are to spoil Uddhav’s image,” asserted one party leader who is close to him.Raj Thackeray stays tight-lipped on the issue. It is interesting that Raj Thackeray has kept quiet on the issue. Famous for his incendiary speeches and candid views, his silence has only fueled the rumors about whether he would be willing to be reconciled or return to the Shiv Sena fold under a new political alignment.With passions, legacies, and power involved, the Thackeray family drama continues to mold the ever-changing political stance in Maharashtra.On Saturday, Raj Thackeray said uniting in the interest of Marathis was not difficult. In a podcast with filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar, he added that he had no issues working with Uddhav Thackeray in the undivided Shiv Sena. He said that for a bigger cause, their fights and issues are trivial.At a separate event, Uddhav Thackeray said he was ready to put aside “trivial” fights provided that those working against Maharashtra’s interests were not entertained. He appealed to everyone to come together for the sake of the Marathi people. Uddhav Thackeray said his cousin should not host anti-Maharashtra people and parties anymore.The estranged cousins indicated reconciliation amid opposition to the “imposition” of Hindi in Maharashtra after the BJP-led state government approved a three-language formula under the National Education Policy, including teaching Hindi from Class 1.Raj Thackeray quit the undivided Shiv Sena in January 2006, blaming Uddhav Thackeray for promoting him to do that. He formed the MNS, which won 13 seats in the 2009 assembly elections. The MNS’s performance has since been dismal. It failed to win any seats in the 2024 assembly polls.