Uddhav-Jaidev will dispute: Raj steps in as the mediator

MUMBAI: In a move that has prompted speculation about the possibilities of their politics, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray drove down for an hour-long meeting with estranged cousin and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav at the latter’s residence on Friday.

Raj,accompaniedbypartyleader Bala Nandgaonkar, reached Matoshree, Bandra, around 11am and left post noon.

The meeting, sources from both sides insist, was for personal reasons — the turmoil in the family caused by the legal battle being fought by Uddhav’s elder brother Jaidev over the inheritance of father Bal Thackeray’s assets. Jaidev’s statement that his Smita Thackeray’s son Aishwarya isn’t his — has caused deep anguish in the fam- ily and promises to cause further embarrassment as the legal battle progresses in the Bombay high court, where Jaidev has challenged the late Sena chief ’s will, claiming Uddhav influenced it.

VIJAYANAND GUPTA/HT MNS chief Raj Thackeray (left) visits his cousin and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav at Matoshree in Bandra on Friday.