Option open for Uddhav and Shinde factions to unite before BMC polls?
India Today
At least four Shiv Sena MPs have suggested former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to reconcile with the Shinde camp by holding talks with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ahead of the BMC polls, said sources.
At least four Shiv Sena MPs have suggested former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to swallow his pride and reconcile with the BJP by holding talks with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, said sources.
The development comes two days after Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday removed Eknath Shinde, who was sworn in as the new Maharashtra chief minister with BJP's support, from all party posts.
The MPs have shown interest in meeting Fadanvis to explore ways for a probable reunion of the two Shiv Sena factions, sources said.
At a time when the Sena fractions are looking at a long legal battle, these MPs feel reconciliation could serve the interests of both Eknath Shinde-led faction and Uddhav Thackeray-led faction, sources added.
According to the MPs, for Uddhav Thackeray it would be seen as a move to save 'brand Sena' and, for Shinde, it would be an alternative to a negative legal result in the future.
With the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections around the corner, both factions would want to retain the Sena symbol, a plus for both factions if they unite and retain the symbol for the crucial polls, as per sources.
Sources, however, confirmed that this would take time, as both Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde are currently non-committal to this proposition.
