The day after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made a lighthearted "come here" remark to Uddhav Thackeray, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader met with Fadnavis, accompanied by his son, Aaditya Thackeray. This meeting, held on Thursday, July 17, 2025, has sparked political speculation in the state.
The meeting took place in the chamber of legislative council chairperson Ram Shinde and lasted approximately half an hour. While details of the discussion were not immediately disclosed by either party, the meeting is believed to have revolved around the Leader of Opposition post.
Fadnavis's original comment occurred at a farewell function for Ambadas Danve, the leader of the opposition in the council. He told Uddhav Thackeray that the BJP was unlikely to join him in the opposition but suggested that Thackeray could consider joining the ruling side. "Uddhav ji, there is no scope (for a change in government) till 2029. We do not have the scope to come to the other (opposition's) side. You have the scope to come here, and it can be thought about. We can think about it differently," Fadnavis stated.
The meeting between Thackeray and Fadnavis gains significance considering the recent political history of Maharashtra. The undivided Shiv Sena, led by Thackeray, ended its long-standing alliance with the BJP after the 2019 assembly elections due to disagreements over sharing the Chief Minister's position. Subsequently, Eknath Shinde led a significant faction of the Sena to form a government with the BJP. Shinde currently serves as a deputy CM in the Fadnavis-led government.
Furthermore, Uddhav Thackeray recently reunited with his cousin, Raj Thackeray, after two decades, with hopes of achieving success together in the state's political arena, beginning with the Mumbai municipal elections.
The relationship between Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde has been strained for a long time. Shinde, a long-time Shiv Sena leader, eventually felt marginalized within the party, particularly with the growing influence of Aaditya Thackeray. This sense of being sidelined, coupled with what Shinde and his supporters perceived as the NCP's growing dominance within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, ultimately led to the split in the Shiv Sena.
Several factors contributed to Shinde's rebellion. These include Uddhav Thackeray's perceived inaccessibility, the increasing interference of the Thackeray family in Shinde's ministry, and the growing clout of leaders from Aaditya Thackeray's Yuva Sena. Moreover, Shinde loyalists felt that Uddhav Thackeray neglected the party organization and avoided meetings with his own legislators, causing them to turn to Shinde.
In the wake of the split, the Shiv Sena has been divided into two factions: Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), led by Uddhav Thackeray, and Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde. The Shinde faction has since gained control of the original party name and the "bow and arrow" symbol.
Aaditya Thackeray has been a vocal critic of Eknath Shinde, especially after Shinde received an award from Sharad Pawar. Aaditya stated that it was against his party's principles to honor someone who had caused a major rift within the Shiv Sena and damaged Maharashtra's economic backbone.
The meeting between Uddhav Thackeray and Devendra Fadnavis, following the "come here" remark, adds another layer of complexity to the state's already intricate political landscape. Whether this signals a potential shift in alliances or merely a casual exchange remains to be seen.
