How Death In A Cinema Hall Paved The Way For Raj Thackeray’s Shiv Sena Exit

Mumbai:

In the early 1990s, Shiv Sena, led by its firebrand leader Bal Thackeray, had grown into a formidable political force in Maharashtra. During those days, two young men would accompany Bal Thackeray to public events. One was charismatic, aggressive and a cartoonist like the Sena chief. The other was quiet, composed and would focus on clicking photographs at these events instead of being in the spotlight. The first was Bal Thackeray’s nephew Raj Thackeray, the second, his son Uddhav Thackeray.

Raj Thackeray was like his uncle Bal Thackeray in more than one way. He was adept at fiery speeches, a cartoonist like his uncle and many thought he would be his political heir. But destiny had other plans. As the two cousins hint at a possible patch-up two decades after their bitter fallout, here’s looking at what led to Raj’s exit and how they came close to a reunion several times before paths diverged again.