Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Jul 4: In a significant show of Marathi unity following the state government's withdrawal of its controversial resolution mandating Hindi as a third language from Class 1, a grand "victory rally" is set to take place at the NSCI Dome in Worli on Saturday. However, in a surprising development, NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar has confirmed he will not attend the event due to prior commitments.
The rally, jointly hosted by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS president Raj Thackeray, marks a rare coming together of the Thackeray cousins. Also expected on stage are Aaditya Thackeray and Amit Thackeray, making it a prominent political family gathering with a strong cultural undertone.
Posters released by the MNS on Tuesday listed both Uddhav and Raj as official hosts—the first time Uddhav's name has appeared on an MNS banner.
Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab and senior MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar jointly oversaw event preparations on Thursday. They confirmed that leaders across the political spectrum have been invited, though only party heads will address the gathering.
Parab emphasised that the event is non-political and meant to celebrate "Marathi unity" that led to the scrapping of the government resolution on Hindi. “Had it not been monsoon season, this rally would have been held in an open ground. This is a programme of the Marathi manoos, not of any single party. The government revoked the GR fearing united Marathi sentiment,” he said.
Despite Sharad Pawar’s absence, state NCP (SP) president Jayant Patil is expected to represent the party. State Congress chief Harshawardhan Sakpal is also likely to join the event.
Meanwhile, sources indicate that backroom talks are quietly underway between Sena (UBT) and MNS for not just this rally, but also for a possible alliance in the upcoming BMC elections.
The rally is expected to draw over 10,000 supporters, with many more likely to gather outside the NSCI venue. A full-scale rehearsal of the event is scheduled for Friday.
Observers say the event could mark a turning point in Maharashtra’s political narrative—where Marathi identity and language take centre stage over traditional party lines.