"You Can Come Here": Fadnavis Jokes About Uddhav Joining Ruling Side

In a light-hearted but politically loaded moment, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appeared to extend an olive branch to former ally and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray during a speech at the Maharashtra Legislative Council on Wednesday. The remarks were made as part of a farewell address for outgoing members of the Vidhan Parishad and have since sparked a wave of speculation about the future political alignments in the state.

Addressing Uddhav directly, Fadnavis quipped, "Uddhav ji, you can be considered for inclusion here (in the ruling party)... At least till 2029, there is no scope for us to come there (opposition). Uddhav ji can think about the scope of coming to this side, and that can be thought about in a different way." He delivered the lines with a laugh, but observers were quick to analyze the underlying political signal.

Uddhav, however, downplayed the moment, telling reporters later, "His remarks were made in jest, let it remain so."

The comments come just two days after Uddhav Thackeray himself made a passing joke about the possibility of the two Shiv Senas coming together again. Though both leaders framed their remarks as humorous, the political undertones were hard to ignore-especially in light of recent developments.

Talk of a potential alliance between Uddhav's Shiv Sena (UBT) and cousin Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is gaining traction ahead of the Mumbai civic body elections. The MNS, which has previously aligned with the BJP, has kept its current position ambiguous. On July 5, the two Thackeray cousins appeared together on stage after more than two decades during an event celebrating the state government's rollback of Hindi language mandates in schools.

In April, Raj Thackeray hinted at a possible reconciliation, saying that their past issues were "trivial" and unity in the interest of the Marathi manoos was possible. Uddhav, in response, also expressed openness to setting aside minor disagreements, with the caveat that those working against Maharashtra's interest would not be welcomed-an indirect dig at Raj's earlier meeting with Shiv Sena leader and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde.

Adding another twist, Raj also met Fadnavis privately last month, fueling further curiosity about shifting loyalties.

Meanwhile, reports of ongoing tensions between Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde-who defected from the original Shiv Sena to join hands with the BJP in 2022-continue to circulate. Shinde was reportedly unhappy after being asked to step down as Chief Minister following the BJP-led Mahayuti's victory in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, which resulted in Fadnavis taking the top post.

As alliance equations continue to evolve and old rivalries soften, Fadnavis's remark-whether a joke or a calculated move-has only deepened speculation about what might lie ahead in Maharashtra's dynamic political landscape.