A chance encounter between Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray in a lift at the Vidhan Sabha has ignited speculation about political realignments in the state.
The unexpected meeting, captured in a viral video, occurred on the first day of the state legislature’s monsoon session. As they waited for the lift, Fadnavis and Thackeray engaged in a brief conversation, raising eyebrows among political circles.
Thackeray downplayed the encounter, dismissing it as a casual interaction. Speaking to the media, he humorously remarked, “It’s fortunate that lifts don’t have ears,” hinting at the perceived secrecy of their conversation. He quipped about looking forward to more such “secret meetings” but emphasized that no significant developments should be inferred from the encounter.
BJP legislator Pravin Darekar, who witnessed the incident, shed light on the aftermath. “When the lift doors opened, Fadnavis headed towards the ruling party offices while Uddhav ji went towards the opposition party offices,” Darekar recounted, suggesting Thackeray’s commitment to his party’s stance.
In another intriguing twist, senior BJP minister Chandrakant Patil visited Thackeray in the Leader of Opposition’s office, presenting him with a bouquet and chocolates. Thackeray wittily remarked, “You will give another chocolate to the people tomorrow,” alluding to potential sops in the upcoming state budget.
Amidst these encounters, Thackeray took the opportunity to criticize both the Maharashtra government and the BJP-led Centre over recent controversies. He labeled them “leakage governments,” referencing issues such as the NEET-UG paper leak and controversies surrounding the Ram temple sanctum sanctorum.
Sources By Agencies
