Fresh twist to Maharashtra politics? Uddhav Thackeray meets Fadnavis hours after ‘come over here’ offer

By Admin

18 Jul, 2025

In a surprising turn of events, Maharashtra witnessed a potential political shift as Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray met with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday. The meeting, which lasted around 30 minutes, was held in the chamber of Legislative Council Chairperson Ram Shinde and has sparked speculation about possible political realignments in the state.

Revisiting Old Equations

The timing of the meeting raised eyebrows, coming just hours after Fadnavis made a tongue-in-cheek offer to his former ally. “Uddhav ji, now we don’t have to do anything till 2029. We have no scope left to come there (to opposition benches). But you have the scope to come here (to treasury benches). We can think about it differently. We will talk differently,” Fadnavis remarked on Wednesday. His comments hinted at an open invitation for reconciliation and possible collaboration within the Mahayuti coalition.

Thackeray and Fadnavis had previously led Maharashtra as allies until 2019, when a fallout over sharing the Chief Minister’s post led to the end of their partnership. Since then, Uddhav Thackeray has led the Shiv Sena (UBT) in the opposition, and their relationship with the BJP has been rocky at best.

Leader of Opposition Post in Focus

While speculation around political realignment runs rife, the meeting was officially described as a discussion about the Leader of Opposition post in the Maharashtra Assembly. Sources indicate that Thackeray has proposed Bhaskar Jadhav as a nominee for the position and urged the Speaker to make a decision soon. The meeting also reportedly touched on the ongoing three-language policy debate in the state.

Language Row Heats Up

A significant agenda point in the Thackeray-Fadnavis discussion was Maharashtra's contentious language policy. Uddhav Thackeray handed over a compilation of media reports opposing the introduction of Hindi as a third language in the state’s curriculum. He argued against what he termed as a linguistic imposition, defending Marathi identity and culture. Thackeray has clarified that the Shiv Sena (UBT) is not against the Hindi language, but strongly condemned comparisons made between Marathi-speaking people and terrorists by certain groups.

Opposition Gears Up for INDIA Bloc Meeting

Meanwhile, political activity continues on the national front. The Opposition's INDIA bloc is set to hold a high-stakes meeting on July 19 at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut confirmed the party's participation and stressed the importance of such deliberations. “The meeting of INDIA bloc is going to be held in Delhi. Yesterday, we got a call from K C Venugopal ji. Uddhav Thackeray ji says that there is a need for a meeting of INDIA bloc. We have picked the date of July 19,” Raut said in a press conference on Thursday.

Conclusion: Realignment or Strategy?

While the Thursday meeting might have been routine in nature, the political context and timing have stirred intense speculation. Is Maharashtra heading toward a fresh political realignment, or was this simply a strategic discussion amid shifting ground realities? With the upcoming INDIA bloc meeting and rising regional tensions over language and leadership roles, the state’s political landscape is bound to remain dynamic in the days ahead.