'Sab mast chal raha hai': Fadnavis junks rumours of rift with Eknath Shinde, says Mahayuti will win BMC polls

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday reaffirmed that all's well between Mahayuti allies BJP and Shiv Sena amid reports of rift with deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde.

In a wide-ranging interview to Moneycontrol's Managing Editor Nalin Mehta at Global Wealth Summit 2025, Fadnavis said there is no rift between him and Shinde as he blamed media for "manufacturing" misleading news.

"These are manufactured, coloured and motivated news reports. Sab mast chal raha hai (All's going well)," Fadnavis said.

He expressed confidence that Mahayuti will contest the upcoming BMC elections unitedly and install its mayor in Mumbai.

In a lighter vein, Fadnavis suggested that people are coming to conclusions since Shinde has a certain personality and always "looks serious".

"He looked serious even when he was the chief minister. No one asked these questions then. Now, that he is not the CM, people are saying - look, Shinde ji isn't smiling, he is sulking. If a person has a serious look on him, then how can he be seen smiling ... everyone has a personality, there is no problem, we are togther," he said.

Fadnavis also opened up on his relationship with Uddhav Thackeray or Sharad Pawar, saying he still talks to Shiv Sena (UBT) each other on the phone.

"There was a time in Maharashtra politics when opposition was not being seen as political opponents but enemies. However, when I returned to head the government, I made it clear that I am here for 'Badlaav' (change) and not 'badla' (revenge). I want to engage in dialogue. My focus is on development. The relationship between us is fine and we can still talk to each other on the phone," Fadnavis said.

The Maharashtra CM said that if Uddhav had answered his call at the right time, the situation today would have been different. However, he added that they now speak to each other on the phone.

Fadnavis, however, ruled out any potential alliance with NCP or Shiv Sena (UBT).

"Never say never in politics. Anybody can go with anyone in politics. So I choose my words carefully. However, going by the current political scenario, we don't see any alliance with either Sharad Pawar's NCP or Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT)," he said.