MUMBAI: In significant political developments over the last week, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray at Thackeray’s residence, ‘Shivtirth,’ in the iconic Dadar area of Mumbai.   This meeting marked CM Fadnavis’s first visit to Thackeray’s residence since taking office. Accompanying Fadnavis was BJP leader Mohit Kamboj, while the MNS was represented by senior leaders Bala Nandgaonkar, Nitin Sardesai, and Sandeep Deshpande.  

The meeting almost immediately sparked intense speculation in political circles, with many interpreting it as a potential strategy for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. Fadnavis clarified that the meeting was purely personal and not political, stating that Raj Thackeray had invited him over after he became Chief Minister. However, the timing of the meeting has led to widespread conjecture about a possible BJP-MNS alliance.  

Adding to the political intrigue, Fadnavis also met with leaders from the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) faction of Shiv Sena on the same day. The discussions reportedly revolved around the technical details of the late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray’s memorial at Dadar, which is nearing completion.  

Despite the official reason given for the meeting, its timing has raised eyebrows, especially with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s absence from key meetings, sparking speculation about internal rifts within the ruling Mahayuti bloc.  

Political analysts believe that Fadnavis’s recent meetings with Raj Thackeray and UBT leaders are a strategic move by Fadanvis led Bharatiya Janata Party, which is the biggest party in the state. The upcoming BMC elections are seen as a critical battleground, and the BJP’s potential alliance with MNS could significantly impact the political landscape in Mumbai. Several other analysts opined that this was apparently due to brewing discontent between Fadanvis and Shinde ever since he was disappointed due to becoming a deputy.

 The Eknath Shinde camp has, however, dismissed any political attribution to the meetings. Pratap Sarnaik, a cabinet minister from the Shiv Sena faction, said that such meetings between political opponents are a long-standing tradition in Maharashtra, despite any differences.