Raj Thackeray-Fadnavis Meeting Sparks Political Buzz
The meeting assumed significance on the backdrop of the MNS chief’s sustained criticism of the BJP.
Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray’s meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday sparked intense political speculation in Maharashtra. However, the MNS denied any political discussion, saying the meeting focused on the Mumbai-Goa highway and issues concerning Shivaji Park in Dadar.
A meeting between Thackeray and Fadnavis took place at around 8:20 am at CM’s official residence Varsha. MNS party sources said the meeting was pre-planned and the arrangements for the meeting had been finalised a couple of days ago.
The meeting assumed significance on the backdrop of the MNS chief’s sustained criticism of the BJP. Over the past few days, Thackeray has been seen fiercely criticizing the saffron party as well as key BJP leaders at both the central and state levels. He has targeted Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, as well as Nitin Gadkari, over various issues. Raj Thackeray also adopted an aggressive stance while demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan against the backdrop of the ‘Gen-Z’ protests; subsequently, the MNS celebrated following Pradhan's resignation.
However, MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande claimed that the meeting was not political and the issue of long-pending completion of Mumbai-Goa Highway was discussed in it. Pointing out the pathetic condition of Nagothane bridge on the Mumbai-Goa highway, he said it poses a danger to a large number of people from Mumbai, who travel to their native places in the Konkan region during the Ganesh Festival.
Deshpande said the chief minister assured Thackeray that a meeting would be held this week to address the issue.
However, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut took a jibe at the meeting, saying Thackeray may have gone to bid the CM a ‘final goodbye.’
Saying that there is nothing wrong with the MNS leader meeting Fadnavis, Raut said sarcastically, “He (Thackeray) must have gone to give Fadnavis a send-off as he is going to Delhi as education minister.” Notably, Fadnavis recently dismissed speculation about his shift to national politics.