Uddhav Thackeray meets Devendra Fadnavis day after CM's 'consider coming to this side' remark

Fadnavis was speaking at a farewell function in the legislative council for leader of opposition Ambadas Danve.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray met on Thursday at the office of Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde, according to ANI.

The meeting comes after Fadnavis said that the Shiv Sena (UBT chief “can come to the ruling side in a different way," giving a new offer to the former ally UBT.

#WATCH | In the Maharashtra Assembly, CM Devendra Fadnavis says, "At least till 2029, there is no scope for us to come there (opposition). Uddhav Ji can think about the scope of coming to this side (ruling party) and that can be thought about in a different way, but there is… pic.twitter.com/jMlounhLpL

— ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2025

While addressing the Maharashtra assembly on Wednesday, the CM said that till 2029, there is no scope for the BJP to come to the opposition side. "At least till 2029, there is no scope for us to come there (opposition). Uddhav Ji can think about the scope of coming to this side (ruling party) and that can be thought about in a different way, but there is absolutely no scope left for us to come there (opposition)," Fadnavis said.

Speaking to mediapersons after the assembly,  Thackeray said, “These things happened in a lighter vein. And so they need not be taken seriously. It was a light banter and should be looked upon like that.”

However, this is not the first instance of such an interaction. In January, the Shiv Sena (UBT)  praised Fadnavis for visiting Gadchiroli on the first day of the new year, inaugurating development projects there and promising to turn around the district torn by Naxal violence into a “steel district”.

Also, when the winter session of the state legislature was underway, Thackeray went to meet Fadnavis to congratulate him on taking charge as the Maharashtra CM.

The CM's comments came  at a time when Thackeray has intensified his attacks on the BJP and the Shinde-led government over the three-language policy. Also,  speculation about a patch-up between the estranged Thackeray cousins is gaining traction.

The undivided Shiv Sena led by Thackeray parted ways with its longtime ally BJP after the 2019 assembly elections.

Fadnavis's remark came amid reports of continuing unease between him and Shinde, who split the Shiv Sena in 2022 and joined hands with the BJP.

Shinde was said to be unhappy when he had to cede the chief minister's post to Fadnavis after the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance retained power with a landslide victory in the 2024 elections.