Uddhav and Raj Thackeray march together in Mumbai today

Mumbai:  Estranged cousins and bitter political rivals - Uddhav and Raj Thackeray - will today take to the streets in Mumbai in support of the mill workers' cause. This is the first time since he quit the Shiv Sena six years ago that MNS leader Raj Thackeray will be on the same side as his cousin, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray.

The two will participate in the protest march demanding free housing for the lakhs of mill workers of Mumbai who have been struggling to be heard for decades now. The march started at around 11 am this morning. Last week, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had assured mill workers that their concerns on housing and jobs for family members would be looked into.

The opposition-sponsored march, supported by mill workers' unions, started from Byculla in Central Mumbai and is proceeding towards Azad Maidan where it is likely to culminate into a public meet. Massive traffic jams are expected in South Mumbai as hundreds of former mill workers and their family members are also expected to join in.

Mumbai Traffic Police has issued advisories about traffic diversions. Alerting the commuters about traffic diversions, the police have asked them to avoid BR Ambedkar Road from Parel towards South Mumbai and use P D'Mello Road as an alternative route.