Hyderabad, July 2 -- The likelihood of the estranged political cousins, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, each leading a political party, coming together as associates in an electoral strategy or merging seems possible but it is Hindi that is bringing them on one platform to start with. Hitherto, Uddhav Thackeray was okay with Hindi-speaking residents of the state if they voted for his party; Raj has been the dead against bhaiyas (otherwise known as UP walas).

It is of note that Hindi has taken the center stage because the BJP-led central government has been keen on that language being taught in schools, and the state government headed by Devendra Fadnavis is a part of that central dispensation, the National Democratic Alliance. It is ironic tha...