Mumbai, June 12: –
In a significant political development, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the Taj Lands End hotel in Bandra on Thursday, sparking intense speculation about a potential realignment of political alliances ahead of the high-stakes Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. The meeting, which was not listed on the Chief Minister’s official itinerary, has caught the attention of political observers and party insiders alike.
This rendezvous comes amid growing talks of a possible alliance between Raj Thackeray’s MNS and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), a partnership that could significantly impact the BJP’s prospects in Mumbai. The sudden meeting between Raj and Fadnavis is being viewed as a strategic move by the BJP to counter and possibly derail the emerging Sena-UBT–MNS tie-up, which many believed was nearing finalisation.
According to a report by ABP Majha, Raj Thackeray arrived at the Bandra hotel early in the morning, followed by Fadnavis around 20 minutes later. While the nature of the discussion remains undisclosed, the timing and secrecy surrounding the meeting have given rise to multiple theories about its implications for the upcoming civic elections.
Reacting to the development, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar expressed skepticism over the motives behind the meeting. He questioned whether the earlier signals of reconciliation between the Thackeray cousins were genuine or merely political posturing. “If people believed the Thackeray cousins were reconciling and suddenly Raj meets Fadnavis, it raises doubts. Was the alliance talk just political drama?” he said.
In recent weeks, leaders from both the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) had publicly expressed a willingness to collaborate, fueling hopes of a historic reunion between Raj and Uddhav. Such an alliance was expected to reshape the political equation in Mumbai, giving a tough fight to the ruling BJP in the country’s richest municipal corporation. However, the sudden meeting with Fadnavis has thrown that possibility into uncertainty, suggesting that new calculations may be underway.
With the BMC elections on the horizon and political alliances still fluid, the coming days will likely offer more clarity on the evolving strategies of Maharashtra’s major players. Raj Thackeray’s next move could very well tilt the balance in what is shaping up to be one of the most fiercely contested civic polls in recent memory.
