India, Dec. 24 -- Coming together politically for the first time in nearly two decades, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Wednesday announced an alliance for the January 15 civic polls in Maharashtra.

Addressing a joint press conference at Worli in Mumbai, the Thackeray cousins said their parties will contest municipal elections in Mumbai, Nashik and other cities across the state. Elections to 29 municipal corporations are scheduled to be held on January 15.

The civic polls for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are seen as the most crucial for the alliance. The undivided Shiv Sena had ruled the BMC for three decades. Following their rout in last year's assem...