'Uddhav Ji Can Come to This Side': Did Fadnavis Just Invite Thackeray to Join the Ruling Side?

Mumbai: A lively exchange during the ongoing monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly has stirred speculation about potential political realignments.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, while addressing the House, made a pointed yet humorous remark directed at former ally and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray.

“Uddhav ji can be considered for inclusion here,” Fadnavis said referring to the ruling side. “At least till 2029, there’s no possibility of us joining the opposition. He should think about crossing over, though we’d have to look at it differently,” he added, sparking light laughter across the Assembly floor.

The comment, seemingly casual, has fueled speculation about possible shifts in Maharashtra’s political landscape, especially as it came just two days after another public moment of bonhomie between Thackeray and BJP MLC Pravin Darekar in the Vidhan Bhavan premises.

'Let’s Come Together Again’: Uddhav, BJP’s Darekar Share Warm Exchange in Vidhan Bhavan

In that earlier exchange, Darekar referred to himself as a “100 per cent Shiv Sainik” loyal to Bal Thackeray.

Uddhav Thackeray responded with a quick jab wrapped in jest, “Then tell those bogus Shiv Sainiks to be honest too. If you’re truly working in the interest of the Marathi people, we can work together, but for that, you will have to return to the Shiv Sena.”

To this, Darekar playfully replied, “Of course, let us all come together once again.”

The rare public camaraderie between former allies comes amid ongoing tensions between the BJP and the Shiv Sena factions since the party’s dramatic split in June 2022. With the shadow of the 2024 elections looming and the memory of the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance still fresh, even passing remarks are now seen as potential signals of deeper political calculations in the works.

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