Amid growing political speculation about a potential alliance between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Thursday morning at a five-star hotel in Bandra, Mumbai.
The closed-door meeting has raised eyebrows as it comes at a time when rumors are intensifying about a reconciliation between the estranged Thackeray cousins—Raj and Uddhav. While official sources confirmed the meeting, they remained tight-lipped about the agenda.
BJP chief spokesperson Keshav Upadhye downplayed the speculation, stating that Raj and Fadnavis are long-time friends and may have discussed state-related development issues. However, the timing of the meeting has fueled political intrigue, especially with local body elections looming.
The Maharashtra government recently initiated the process for municipal polls by issuing ward delimitation orders for 29 civic bodies, including Mumbai. With this backdrop, talk of a possible MNS-Sena (UBT) alliance has gained momentum.
Raj Thackeray, who backed the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections but contested the state assembly polls independently, recently said that uniting for the cause of the “Marathi manoos” should not be difficult. Uddhav Thackeray echoed similar sentiments, saying he’s willing to bury “trivial fights” if it means protecting Maharashtra’s interests.
As political realignments take shape, this meeting between Fadnavis and Raj Thackeray has added fresh fuel to the already simmering buzz around a potential political shake-up in the state.
