In a surprising turn of events during the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s (MNS) protest in Thane, Shiv Sena leader and state Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik attempted to join the demonstration against the government he is part of. This protest was sparked by the ongoing language row in Maharashtra. MNS workers, however, did not welcome him; they heckled Sarnaik, labeled him a traitor, and forced him to leave. Prior to the protest, Sarnaik had criticized police actions against demonstrators and described the protest as a peaceful march advocating for Marathi interests. The presence of Minister Sarnaik at the protest raises significant questions. It is unclear whether he attended with the knowledge and approval of his party chief and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The lack of public comment from Shiv Sena leadership leaves open the possibility that Sarnaik had party approval. This situation begs the question: why would a leader from Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena attempt to join a protest organized by Raj Thackeray’s MNS, especially when MNS has aligned closely with Shinde’s rival, Uddhav Thackeray? The answer lies in the emotive language issue in Maharashtra, upcoming civic polls, and the recent reconciliation between the Thackeray cousins. Following a rebellion that split Shiv Sena, Team Shinde retained the party’s name and symbol but now finds itself on the defensive as the Marathi versus non-Marathi debate intensifies. Language has always been a sensitive issue in Maharashtra, championed by Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. Although Shinde’s faction holds onto the party’s identity, it remains largely inactive as MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) accuse the BJP-led central government of imposing Hindi. The recent reunion of Uddhav and Raj Thackeray after nearly two decades adds to Shinde’s challenges. The united Thackeray family can now claim Bal Thackeray’s legacy, potentially gaining political ground. Despite Team Shinde holding Shiv Sena’s name and symbol, this reunion could shift political dynamics. The upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections add further pressure on Shinde. The language row is expected to be a significant issue in these elections. To win over Marathi voters, Shinde must navigate his alliance with BJP carefully, as it exposes him to accusations of being “anti-Marathi.” Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray’s faction senses an opportunity. They have criticized Shinde for his alliance with BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who made controversial remarks amid the language row. They demand that if Shinde cannot address these issues with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he should resign.