HighLights
  1. Sharad Pawar met Eknath Shinde at Vidhan Bhavan.
  2. The meeting sparked speculation about NCP (SP) joining NDA.
  3. CM Fadnavis dismissed rumors of new parties joining.

State Bureau, Maharashtra: Maharashtra politics has taken a dramatic turn after an unexpected meeting between NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at the Vidhan Bhavan, followed by another meeting between BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde and senior NCP leader Jayant Patil. The developments have fuelled speculation within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) over the possibility of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) extending support to the BJP-led NDA.

However, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed the rumours, stating that no new parties are currently entering the NDA and that the BJP is focused on strengthening its own organisation.

Why did Sharad Pawar and Eknath Shinde meet?

NCP chief Sharad Pawar arrived at the Vidhan Bhavan on Wednesday to attend a meeting on issues related to the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute. This marked his first meeting on the issue in 28 years. During his visit, he went to the cabin of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and met him.

Pawar later held a meeting with his party MLAs at the Vidhan Bhavan. As news of the meeting spread, it triggered widespread political speculation. Leaders from both the ruling alliance and the Opposition reacted differently to the development, particularly those from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), while the Congress largely refrained from commenting.

Following the meeting, both the Shinde faction and the Sharad Pawar faction clarified that the interaction was purely formal and had no political implications.

ALSO READ: 'Bring Him To Me...': Aditya Thackeray After Losing Close Confidant Sachin Ahir To Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena

Both sides said such meetings between senior leaders at the Vidhan Bhavan are a part of the normal political process.

Adding to the buzz, the meeting between senior BJP leader Vinod Tawde and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) Legislative Council member Eknath Khadse also fuelled political speculation further.

However, Khadse described it as a routine meeting and dismissed any political significance. Tawde had visited the Mumbai residence of Union Minister Raksha Khadse, where he met Eknath Khadse. Raksha Khadse is Eknath Khadse's daughter-in-law. After the meeting, Khadse reiterated that it was not a political interaction.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde defended his meeting with Sharad Pawar, calling it a reflection of Maharashtra's political culture. He said welcoming a senior leader like Pawar to his office was a matter of basic respect.

Sanjay Raut criticises NCP Chief Sharad Pawar

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut took a direct jibe at Sharad Pawar and questioned his political role. The UBT leader said he was disappointed that the veteran politician chose to sit in the cabin of a "traitor" who, according to him, had brought down the previous MVA government.

Raut argued that such actions damage the credibility of Pawar's party and questioned why an internal discussion needed to take place in Eknath Shinde's office when several other venues were available. He further said that honouring those who defected weakens the opposition's legal battle against political betrayal.

ALSO READ: Sharad Pawar's Meet With Eknath Shinde Sparks NDA-NCP Alliance Buzz; Rohit Pawar Reacts

Responding to Raut's allegations, NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad hit back, saying it was inappropriate to attach political meaning to a formal meeting between senior leaders. Accusing Raut of making comments without knowing the facts, Awhad said political etiquette should also be respected.

Reacting to Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut's remarks, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said, "If tomorrow Sanjay Raut, Aaditya Thackeray, or Uddhav Thackeray were to travel in Eknath Shinde's car, should that be viewed as something wrong? I don't think so. I have always maintained that in politics, no one is a permanent enemy, and no one is a permanent friend..."


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