A day after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray were seen travelling on the same flight from Mumbai
to Nagpur triggering a political chatter, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde responded by saying, "Fadnavis knows how dangerous a scheming friend could be." The visual of Fadnavis and Thackeray travelling together to Nagpur on Friday sparked a major political speculation in Maharashtra. While Fadnavis was seated on one side of the aircraft, Thackeray occupied the opposite side, accompanied by his son and former minister Aaditya Thackeray and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut. Responding to questions on the shared flight, Shinde dismissed suggestions of any political significance and instead recalled the events following the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections. "The BJP and the undivided Shiv Sena had taken the same flight in 2019. But then he took a different flight and aligned with the Congress," Shinde said, referring to Uddhav Thackeray's decision to part ways with the BJP and form the Maha Vikas Aghadi government with the Congress and the NCP. Taking a veiled swipe at the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief, Shinde told news agency PTI, "Devendra Fadnavis is a very clever person. He knows very well how dangerous a scheming friend could be." Shinde's remarks come against the backdrop of renewed political chatter after the rare public appearance of Fadnavis and Thackeray together on the same flight, though there was no indication of any political meeting between the two leaders.
Rivals Fadnavis And Thackeray Share Flight
Fadnavis and Thackeray travelled together on a flight from Mumbai to Nagpur on Friday, triggering political chatter. However, the BJP dismissed any political significance to it, saying leaders across party lines maintain cordial personal relations.The development came as the BJP and Shiv Sena (UBT) have been trading barbs over 'Operation Tiger'. Six Lok Sabha MPs from the Shiv Sena (UBT) recently crossed over to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
The BJP and the undivided Shiv Sena, long-time allies, parted ways after the 2019 Assembly elections over the Chief Minister's post. Thackeray went on to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi government with the Congress and the then undivided NCP. In 2022, Shinde led a rebellion in the Shiv Sena, toppling the Thackeray-led government and later joining hands with the BJP to form a new government in Maharashtra.
(With agency inputs)
