At a Congress event commemorating Rajiv Gandhi's birth anniversary, Uddhav Thackeray, chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), criticized the BJP, claiming that while his father, Bal Thackeray, openly criticized Gandhi, they were never targeted by central agencies like the ED or CBI. Thackeray emphasized the lack of vindictiveness between past political rivals Shiv Sena and Congress, contrasting it with the current divisive politics under the BJP. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called the BJP 'poison' that needs to be eliminated, highlighting the importance of the India alliance in opposing unfair legislation. Thackeray also remarked on the government's negligence towards violence in regions like Manipur and Kashmir, further criticizing the Modi administration. This event marks Thackeray's first formal participation in a Congress gathering since aligning with them in 2019 after leaving the BJP. The leaders called for unity among opposition parties to challenge the BJP's dominance in upcoming elections.