Now, CM Eknath Shinde visits Raj Thackeray ahead of BMC poll

CM downplays meeting, says he visited Thackeray’s residence for Ganpati darshan

Following a string of meetings between Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday called on Mr. Thackeray amid swirling rumours of a possible alliance between the ruling Shiv Sena (Shinde faction)-BJP and the MNS ahead of the crucial civic elections in the State.

As in the previous meetings, the reason was downplayed with Mr. Shinde stating that had merely come to attend the Ganpati darshan at Mr. Thackeray’s residence ‘Shivtirth’ in Mumbai’s Dadar area as part of the ongoing Ganesha festivities.

When asked about the possibility of ‘a new political equation’ taking root in the State, Mr. Shinde remarked: “As there was no political discussion, the question of a new political equation coming into being doesn’t arise… an atmosphere of bonhomie and enthusiasm pervades the State on occasion of Ganesha festivities. As we keep going to each other’s places for darshan , so I visited Mr. Thackeray at his residence for Ganpati darshan.”

Stating that the visit was purely “a courtesy call”, Mr. Shinde said that as Mr. Thackeray had had a hip replacement surgery, the visit also served as an occasion to enquire about the MNS chief’s health.

It was a meeting between two of the most prominent Shiv Sena ‘rebels’: Mr. Thackeray, the estranged cousin of Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, had caused a major rupture within Bal Thackeray’s party after he exited the Sena in 2006 and found the MNS.

Mr. Shinde’s recent intra-party revolt, which brought down Uddhav Thackeray’s three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi government, is the most serious rebellion within the Sena following that of Raj Thackeray’s.

“We talked of old times…After all, we have all worked in the shadow of Bal Thackeray’s guidance for many years,” said Mr. Shinde after the meeting.