- By Raju Kumar
- Sat, 19 Jul 2025 11:13 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and former Maharashtra chief minister, on Friday reacted to the speculations over his meeting with Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, following an offer by the BJP leader to consider joining the ruling alliance, Mahayuti.
Thackeray mocked the buzz around switching sides by using the metaphor, 'chaddi baniyan gang', originally used by Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar to target the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra.
On Friday, when reporters asked Thackeray about Fadnavis' offer, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said, "Before speaking to you, I was speaking to the print media. I spoke about the chaddi baniyan gang. There is also an advertisement for chaddi baniyan - 'ye andar ki baat hai' (it is an inside story)."
Uddhav meets CM Fadnavis
On July 17, Thackeray met friend-turned-foe Fadnavis, the move coming a day after the latter's "come here" offer to his former ally set off political speculation in the state. He called on the chief minister in the chamber of legislative council chairperson Ram Shinde.
During the meeting, which lasted for about half an hour, the former CM's son and Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray was also present. Queried by reporters on the Vidhan Bhavan premises, Aaditya said the meeting was to discuss Marathi language-related issues.
"We put our view on why Hindi should not be imposed as the third language from Class I. We gave a collection of articles written by experts and non-political persons," the Worli MLA said.
On Wednesday, speaking at the farewell function of the leader of opposition in the council Ambadas Danve, the CM, in a tongue-in-cheek remark, told Uddhav that the BJP was not likely to join him in the opposition, but he can come over to the ruling side.
(With PTI inputs)
