Raj Thackeray said that he had always maintained that Maharashtra was bigger than any individual issue and that he was prepared to come together in the larger interest of the state.

“I had said earlier also that Maharashtra is bigger than any issue. For Maharashtra, I was ready to come together, and that has happened today,” Raj Thackeray said.

Using a sharp metaphor, he alleged that political parties were indulging in poaching leaders from rival outfits. “There are many child-stealing gangs active in Maharashtra, and now there are two more additions: two political parties have started stealing from other parties,” he said.

Raj Thackeray said the alliance had deliberately decided not to announce candidate names or disclose seat-sharing details at this stage. “We have decided, as a precaution, not to announce candidates’ names now. We will also not share how many seats Sena and MNS will contest. But I can say with confidence that the next mayor of Mumbai will be Marathi, and that will be from our alliance only,” he said.

He also warned of what he described as an impending negative and fake campaign by the BJP and its machinery. “I have a lot of videos and will release them in response to their propaganda,” Raj Thackeray said, adding, “Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should not teach us about Hindutva.”

The alliance announcement is seen as a significant political development ahead of the civic polls, with both parties projecting Marathi unity as the central theme of their campaign.