Devendra Fadnavis meets Sena (UBT) leaders after Raj Thackeray, sparking political speculation
Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held a meeting with three senior leaders from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction, raising political speculation about potential shifts in the state.
The meeting, which took place at Fadnavis’ official residence, Sagar Bungalow, on Monday afternoon, saw the presence of Uddhav Thackeray’s close aide and MLC Milind Narvekar, former minister Subhash Desai, and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve.
This development came just hours after Fadnavis met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, further fueling discussions on possible political realignments.
Initial reports suggest that the meeting centered around the ongoing work on the Balasaheb Thackeray Memorial. The memorial, located at the Mumbai Mayor’s Bungalow, is being developed in two phases. The first phase, involving structural restoration, beautification, and parking development, has been completed at a cost of ₹180 crore. The second phase will introduce a high-tech immersive museum dedicated to Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy.
While the official agenda focused on the memorial’s progress, the presence of top Sena (UBT) leaders at the meeting has led to widespread speculation about potential political undercurrents. The timing of these meetings, especially with civic elections on the horizon, has added to the intrigue surrounding Maharashtra’s political landscape.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
