Rajdeep Sardesai: Thackeray Cousins' Reunion for BMC Polls Is 'Opportunism' Born of Survival Needs

In this special broadcast, India Today’s Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai decodes the significant political development in Maharashtra as cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray join forces for the upcoming BMC elections. Rajdeep Sardesai terms the alliance as ‘opportunism’ but a ‘best case scenario’ for both leaders, describing it as a battle for survival for Uddhav Thackeray and a fight for relevance for Raj Thackeray. He notes that the reunion aims to consolidate the Marathi vote bank and potentially the Muslim vote, creating a ‘Mamu’ factor. The discussion also highlights the Congress party’s decision to withdraw from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) for these polls, fracturing the opposition unity against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Rajdeep Sardesai analyses whether this ‘gamble’ can counter the BJP’s dominance and revive the ‘Brand Thackeray’ legacy.