NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar on October 4 backed the Thackeray brothers’ protest march in Mumbai, saying Maharashtra is in turmoil.

Pawar supported the “Bhaymukt Thane” (fear-free Thane) march led by Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, which demanded an end to what protesters called the “rule of goondas”.

The veteran leader demanded a CBI probe into the death of protester Suresh Purnekar, with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut calling for a culpable homicide case over the incident.

Pawar said the state government had failed to maintain law and order. The march drew workers from both the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

The show of unity between Pawar and the Thackeray brothers signals a consolidated opposition front in Maharashtra ahead of upcoming political battles, according to ANI.

The march is the latest joint show of strength by the Thackeray cousins, who reunited politically earlier this year. Opposition parties in Maharashtra have increasingly coordinated their street protests against the state government.