Raj and Uddhav Thackeray share dias, spread rumours

According to reports, The Thackerays were seen speaking to each other and posing for photographs at a function to mark the second death anniversary of Balasaheb Thackeray, the founder of regional party Shiv Sena.

The ice between two cousin brothers started to melt after the Assembly elections in the Maharashtra, when Raj fell ill.

Two weeks ago, Uddhav Thackeray visited his cousin's daughter in hospital after she was involved in an accident.

Political experts opined that, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav had turned to Raj to regain political grounds, after being snubbed by erstwhile ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), though Sena denied any such possibilities.

25-year alliance between the Sena and the BJP crumbled before the election owing to the dis-agreement between two allies over seat sharing.

The election saw BJP finishing on top much ahead of the others.

In the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, BJP has won 122 seats, 23 short of a majority.

Shiv Sena, which has emerged as the second largest party, bagged 63 seats.

Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), who offered 'unconditional outside support' to BJP-led Maharashtra Government got 41 in its kitty.

Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) finished the recent state election, rounding up just one seat, as compared to 13 in 2009.

Though the BJP formed a minority government in the state under the Chief Ministership of Devendra Fadnavis, but it is still short of majority by 22 seats.

Uddhav Thackeray failed to win a place for the party in the new government after trying to re-unite with BJP.

After which Sena has decided to sit in opposition bench in Maha Assembly.

Sena also voted against Devendra Fadnavis in last week's trust vote.

BJP and Sena, as reported by media, though are still trying to formulate an amicable post-poll alliance through back-channel talks.

In this situation, Uddhav's meeting with Raj has been seen as a 'pressure tactics' by Shiv Sena on BJP.

Raj Thackeray, 46, had not attended last year's tribute to his uncle at the famous Shivaji Park in Mumbai.

But earlier, when Uddhav Thackeray was hospitalised with a heart attack in 2012, Raj visited him there and drove him home.

The family feud started in 2005 after Bal Thackeray chose son Uddhav over nephew Raj as his political heir which prompted Raj to quit Sena and form his own political outfit, MNS.