Following a string of meetings between Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday called on Mr. Thackeray amid swirling rumours of a possible alliance between the ruling Shiv Sena (Shinde faction)-BJP and the MNS ahead of the crucial civic elections in the State.
As in the previous meetings, the reason was downplayed with Mr. Shinde stating that had merely come to attend the Ganpati darshan at Mr. Thackeray’s residence ‘Shivtirth’ in Mumbai’s Dadar area as part of the ongoing Ganesha festivities.
When asked about the possibility of ‘a new political equation’ taking root in the State, Mr. Shinde remarked: “As there was no political discussion, the question of a new political equation coming into being doesn’t arise… an atmosphere of bonhomie and enthusiasm pervades the State on occasion of Ganesha festivities. As we keep going to each other’s places for darshan , so I visited Mr. Thackeray at his residence for Ganpati darshan.”
