The meeting comes amid speculation over rapprochement between Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his politically estranged cousin Raj Thackeray, who heads the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)
Devendra Fadnavis (L), Raj Thackeray (R). File Photo
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and MNS head Raj Thackeray met at a hotel in Mumbai on Thursday morning, reported news agency PTI.
The meeting comes amid speculation over rapprochement between Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his politically estranged cousin Raj Thackeray, who heads the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
Senior BJP leader Fadnavis and Raj Thackeray met at a five-star hotel in Bandra area in the morning, sources confirmed but declined to elaborate, reported PTI.
When contacted, BJP chief spokesperson Keshav Upadhye said the two leaders are good friends and may have met to discuss development issues related to the state, reported PTI.
The Maharashtra government this week set in motion the process of holding the local body polls by issuing orders for ward delimitation for 29 municipal corporations, including Mumbai.
There has been speculation about a possible reconciliation between the Thackeray brothers ahead of the polls.
The estranged Thackeray cousins sparked the buzz with their recent statements indicating they could ignore "trivial issues" and join hands nearly two decades after a bitter parting of ways.
While Raj Thackeray has said uniting in the interest of "Marathi manoos" (Marathi-speaking people) is not difficult, Uddhav Thackeray has insisted he is ready to put aside trivial fights, provided those working against Maharashtra's interests are not entertained.
Raj Thackeray extended support to the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, but his party contested the state assembly polls in November last year on its own.
Ready to come for interests of Maharashtra, Marathi manoos, says Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray
Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said his party is ready to come together with anyone who will work to protect the interests of Maharashtra and Marathi manoos.
Aaditya Thackeray's statement comes amid the rapprochement buzz between the Uddhav Thackeray-led party and Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
Talking to reporters In Mumbai, Aaditya Thackeray accused the BJP of "swallowing" Mumbai and Maharashtra. He said injustice is being meted out to Maharashtra by the BJP.
"We have been saying this consistently. We are ready to work with anyone, any party that is ready to work in the interests of Maharashtra and Marathi manoos," he said, according to the PTI.
"Our responsibility is to bring in change. Any party that is working to protect the interests of Maharashtra needs to come together and fight," he said on a question on an alliance between the MNS and the Shiv Sena (UBT), the news agency reported.
(With inputs from PTI)
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