Mumbai, Jun 8 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday said his party is ready to come together with anyone who will work to protect the interests of Maharashtra and Marathi manoos, his statement coming amid the rapprochement buzz between the Uddhav Thackeray-led party and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).

Talking to reporters here, Thackeray accused the BJP of “swallowing” Mumbai and Maharashtra. He said injustice is being meted out to Maharashtra by the BJP.

“We have been saying this consistently. We are ready to work with anyone, any party that is ready to work in the interests of Maharashtra and Marathi manoos,” he said.

“Our responsibility to bring in change. Any party that is working to protect the interests of Maharashtra needs to come together and fight,” he said on a question on an alliance between the MNS and the Sena (UBT).

The Thackeray cousins have sparked speculation about a possible reconciliation with their recent statements indicating they could ignore “trivial issues” and join hands nearly two decades after a bitter parting of ways.

While Raj Thackeray has said uniting in the interest of Marathi manoos (Marathi-speaking people) was not difficult, Uddhav Thackeray has insisted he was ready to put aside trivial fights, provided those working against Maharashtra’s interests were not entertained. PTI PR BNM