Raj-Uddhav meeting a family affair: Sena

Mumbai, Jul 30: A day after estranged cousins Raj and Uddhav Thackeray met causing ripples in political circles, Shiv Sena today said it was a 'family meeting' and nothing more should be read into it.

Raj quit Shiv Sena in 2006 to float Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Uddhav is the president of Shiv Sena.

"They are cousins. If not at Matoshree (Thackeray residence in suburban Bandra), should they have met at Shivaji Park?" Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut asked. "Raj went to Matoshree and wished him (Uddhav) on his birthday.

It is tradition of the Thackeray household to accord due respect to the guests and Raj is, after all, from the family," he said, adding Rahul and Varun Gandhi meet in Delhi. Asked if the MNS chief's rushing to Uddhav was linked to the ongoing court case over late Bal Thackeray's will, Raut said, "Uddhav is capable of handling the issue on his own."

"As far as speculation about issue of ensuing Mumbai civic polls being discussed in the meeting, whatever Uddhavji has to say on these elections will soon be public," he said.

PTI