Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis refrained from addressing ongoing rumours of a potential political rapprochement involving the Thackeray cousins and factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), stating he preferred not to get involved in matters that did not concern him.
Fadnavis was in Pune on Saturday for a book release event, where he was asked about recent reports suggesting possible alignments between Uddhav Thackeray&rsquo;s Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray&rsquo;s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), as well as speculation over a reunion between Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and his uncle Sharad Pawar, who lead rival NCP factions.
Responding to the queries, Fadnavis remarked, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t subscribe to begani shaadi mein Abdullah diwana,&rdquo; an idiom referring to someone unnecessarily meddling in others&rsquo; affairs.
&ldquo;They are brothers (the Thackerays), and the Pawars are uncle and nephew. If they reach an understanding among themselves, that&rsquo;s up to them. You in the media are speculating. I&rsquo;m not even sure if they&rsquo;re in contact, and already you&rsquo;re impatient. I won&rsquo;t invite trouble by offering remarks on either family,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;
Reiterating his disinterest in engaging with hypothetical scenarios, the Chief Minister told reporters, &ldquo;These are two separate parties and two brothers. They must choose their path. Once a decision is made, we will respond. Until then, let the media continue its speculation. Why should I react to it?&rdquo;
Posters urging a reunion between Uddhav and Raj Thackeray recently surfaced in Mumbai&rsquo;s Girgaon locality ahead of the civic elections. The message on the posters read, &ldquo;The eight crore Marathi population of Maharashtra wants both the brothers together again,&rdquo; initiating discussions around a possible coming together of the cousins.
The potential for renewed unity between the Thackerays was first hinted at in April, when both leaders publicly expressed readiness to reconcile in the broader interest of the state. Raj Thackeray had said in an interview with actor Mahesh Manjrekar, &ldquo;The disputes and disagreements between us are minor, compared to greater causes. Maharashtra is far bigger than our personal issues.&rdquo;
Uddhav Thackeray also signalled openness to collaboration, saying, &ldquo;Whatever people of Maharashtra wish will happen.&rdquo; He further added, &ldquo;I am willing to set aside minor differences for the sake of Maharashtra,&rdquo; while simultaneously demanding clarity on the purpose of any alliance. &ldquo;There must be transparency&mdash;are we uniting for the benefit of Maharashtra or to serve the BJP&rsquo;s interests?&rdquo;
Raj Thackeray, who departed from the Shiv Sena in 2006 and launched the MNS following internal conflicts and dissatisfaction over his role in the party, pledged unconditional support to the ruling Mahayuti alliance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Despite the endorsement, his party failed to win any seats.
Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray faced setbacks of his own, with his faction securing just 20 seats in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. The renewed talk of reconciliation between the cousins has gained momentum ahead of the upcoming local body polls, where the undivided Shiv Sena traditionally held significant influence.
Back in February, Uddhav and Raj were seen interacting informally at a wedding function in Mumbai, a moment that added fuel to the already circulating speculation of a political reunion.
Separately, addressing the issue of surplus sugar production in the state, Fadnavis proposed a productive alternative. &ldquo;We can manufacture polylactic acid, which is biodegradable plastic, using excess sugar. This may provide a viable solution during periods of overproduction,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;
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CM declines to comment on growing speculation around reunions within Sena and NCP factions.

Fadnavis Avoids Thackerays, Pawars Alliance Buzz

CM declines to comment on growing speculation around reunions within Sena and NCP factions.

June 8, 2025 | 17:25 IST

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