India, June 10 -- In a move that has set political circles abuzz, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said his party is willing to take a step forward-or even back-if it means doing what's best for Maharashtra and its Marathi-speaking population. "There is no political ego in this," Raut declared, as speculation intensified over a potential reunion between Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).

The statement follows a flurry of hints from both Uddhav and Raj Thackeray that they may be willing to bury past differences in the interest of the "Marathi manoos" and Mumbai's identity-nearly two decades after their acrimonious split.

Raut emphasized that the Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, is committed to p...