India, Dec. 25 -- Reconnecting after two decades, the Thackeray cousins announced their political alliance on Wednesday for the January 15 civic polls in Maharashtra. The announcement was made at a hotel in Worli after Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray drove down to Shivaji Park together to offer tributes at Sena founder Bal Thackeray's memorial.

"Maharashtra was waiting for this moment -- Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS have formed an alliance," said Raj. Advancing the poll pitch, Uddhav added: "The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had said 'batenge to katenge'; we want to tell the Marathi people that we will be finished if we stay divided."

The proclamation was welcomed with loud appla...