Mumbai: Estranged Thackeray cousins Uddhav and Raj took part in an Opposition-sponsored march supporting the cause of the mill workers in Mumbai.
The political development is sure to set the tongues wagging as Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj have not been on the best of terms with the latter forming his own political outfit after leaving the Shiv Sena.
The two leaders along with their supporters marched to Azad Maidan, leading an Opposition-sponsored rally. However, both the leaders attended the rally separately, which began from Byculla and culminated at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai.
Uddhav warned of a Mumbai bandh on August 1 if the government fails to take a decision on mill workers' demands, including providing free houses to them.
Raj, who joined the morcha shortly after Uddhav, Sena leader Manohar Joshi, RPI leader Ramdas Athawale and BJP leader Vinod Tawde joined it, did not attend the Azad Maidan meeting and returned soon after the rally had reached CST.
The MNS chief later said he was opposed to the Mumbai bandh and there was no need to hold Mumbaikars to ransom.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Republican Party of India also joined the rally.
Several associations of textile industry workers, thousands of whom became jobless after prolonged strikes since early 1980s organised the morcha, which started from Veermata Jeejabai garden at Byculla.
The issue also figured in the ongoing Legislature session with the Assembly being adjourned three times as noisy Opposition members sought a discussion and favourable decision on the matter.
(With additional information from PTI)
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