Ramdas Athawale offers to mediate between Uddhav, and Devendra Fadnavis

RPI (Athawale) chief Ramdas Athawle offers to mediate between Uddhav and Fadnavis (File pic)

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale offered to play the role of a mediator between Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, saying that he could try to bring the two leaders together permanently in the future.

While briefing the media on Friday, the Republican Party of India (Athawale) chief said that the three leaders shared the stage. Athawale said that they had come together for the occasion, pointing out that political leaders often share the stage at weddings and other social functions.

Athawle said, "I think they came together on this occasion. Leaders often share the stage at weddings and other functions. It was difficult to imagine Uddhav Thackeray and Devendra Fadnavis sharing the stage, but Raj Thackeray brought them together for a day," as cited by IANS.

Athawale further expressed his willingness to play the role of a mediator between the two leaders, saying he could attempt to bring them together permanently in the future.

He also added, "I can also try to bring Devendra Fadnavis and Uddhav Thackeray together permanently in the future."

Uddhav, Raj and CM Fadnavis share the stage

The joint appearance of Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, and Devendra Fadnavis has drawn attention amid Maharashtra's changing political equations. Athawale's remarks have added to the speculation surrounding the possibility of political reconciliation between the leaders.

Aaditya Thackeray writes to Fadnavis against floating sea advertisements

Earlier on October 29, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray flayed the state government over its move to introduce "floating hoardings" in the sea, calling the decision "highly irresponsible, possibly corrupt, and one that ruins the aesthetics of Mumbai."

The Maharashtra Maritime Board had invited tenders for floating advertisements on barges along prominent waterfronts in the city. In a letter to CM Devendra Fadnavis on October 28, Thackeray opposed the move, stating, "I write to you to voice my clear objection to the defacement of the city by means of now adding ‘floating hoardings' in the sea."

The letter further read, "Firstly, sir, due to the unabated pollution and no serious action against it, the sea cannot be seen by most of the city from even a little distance further from the coast.

Sadly, with this absurd decision to support a cartel of hoarding contractors, whatever can be seen will be advertisements pasted in the faces of citizens, who are already bearing the brunt of the rampant pollution on land."

(With inputs from IANS)