Breaking: New Alliance in the Works? CM Devendra Fadnavis–Aaditya Thackeray Meeting Hints at Political Realignment

In a development that's sending ripples through Maharashtra’s political corridors, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Aaditya Thackeray, son of former CM Uddhav Thackeray, reportedly held a one-hour meeting at Mumbai’s Sofitel Hotel last night. While there has been no official confirmation from either the BJP or Shiv Sena (UBT), the hush-hush nature of the meeting has triggered widespread speculation. Political observers suggest this could signal a major realignment ahead of the BMC elections, especially since Aaditya has been handed the reins for the party’s municipal campaign. Sources say this is not the first sign of increasing closeness between Fadnavis and Thackeray in recent days. This has led to questions about the future of Eknath Shinde, whose faction broke away from Uddhav’s Shiv Sena to form a government with BJP in 2022. While Raj Thackeray continues to push the "Marathi Manoos" narrative, tensions within alliances appear to be rising. BJP has yet to comment on the meeting, but Eknath Shinde’s camp has tried to downplay it, calling it “routine.” However, the political undertones suggest a bigger shift may be brewing behind the scenes.