Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday issued strict directives to all party members and functionaries, prohibiting them from engaging with media outlets or sharing personal opinions on social media platforms. He further specified that even official party spokespersons require his prior approval before communicating with the media.

These instructions come just three days after Raj Thackeray shared the stage with his estranged cousin, Uddhav Thackeray, at a joint rally in Mumbai titled 'Awaj Marathicha'. The gathering celebrated the successful rollback of two Government Resolutions (GRs) by the previous Devendra Fadnavis-led government that had introduced Hindi as a third language from Class 1 in state schools.

The rare public appearance together by the cousins, who have become unexpected allies, has reportedly invigorated cadres of both the MNS and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena faction. Political observers suggest this reunion could provide a much-needed boost to both parties, which have been striving to recover their political standing after facing significant setbacks in the assembly polls last year.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday night, Raj Thackeray explicitly stated, "A clear order...No one from the party should communicate with newspapers, news channels, or any digital platforms. Also, no one should post personal reaction videos on social media." He reiterated that even officially designated spokespersons must seek his explicit permission before speaking to the media or expressing views on social media. Neither Raj Thackeray nor the MNS has provided a specific reason for these new, stringent directives.

With inputs from PTI