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The three leaders held a 20-minute discussion in CM Devendra Fadnavis’s ante-chamber, once again setting off political speculation
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray met Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis for a 20-minute discussion on July 17. (Image: PTI/File)
A day after the ‘come over here’ remark directed at him by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray met their former ally on Thursday.
The three leaders held a 20-minute discussion in Fadnavis’s ante-chamber, once again setting off political speculation. But, contrary to all the buzz surrounding shifting alliances and loyalties in state politics, they discussed the post of the opposition leader in the state assembly and the issue of alleged Hindi imposition via the three-language formula.
All through Tuesday (July 16), there was much talk about Fadnavis’s tongue-in-cheek remark to Uddhav in the state assembly, where he told him that there is scope for the former chief minister to crossover from the opposition to the ruling side.
“(Uddhav ji) you can be considered for inclusion here (in the ruling party),” Fadnavis said, while appearing to laugh and share a joke. “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).”
While Uddhav dismissed the remark as made “in jest”, there was no stopping the rumour mill from working overtime. The undivided Shiv Sena led by Uddhav parted ways with longtime ally BJP after the 2019 assembly elections over a dispute on sharing the CM’s post.
This comes at a time when there are reports of continuing unease between Fadnavis and his deputy Eknath 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 retained power with a landslide victory in the 2024 elections.
WHAT DID FADNAVIS AND THE TWO THACKERAYS TALK ABOUT?
It is learnt that the discussion between Fadnavis and the two Thackerays focused on the post of Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra assembly and the issue of the three-language formula and alleged push for Hindi.
Uddhav handed over a book titled ‘Why do we need Hindi imposition at all?’, to Fadnavis. In response, the chief minister told him that this book has already been sent to education expert Dr Narendra Jadhav, the chairman of the new committee that is examining the “language policy”.
“…Today we gave him a compilation of why there should not be a three-language policy from the first class as written by many journalists and editors,” Aaditya Thackeray told reporters after the meeting.
The leaders discussed that the post of leader of the opposition is the Speaker’s prerogative, but it has still not been given. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve bid goodbye to the post a day ago. His farewell event was a highly charged exchange between the two Shiv Senas in the House as Uddhav and Shinde traded barbs and taunts while delivering the valedictory speeches.
Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st…Read More
Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st… Read More
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