Raj Thackeray meets Maharashtra CM Fadnavis amid political speculation

Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at his official residence in Mumbai on Wednesday, leading to speculation in political circles.

An MNS functionary said the meeting was about issues related to Shivaji Park in central Mumbai, where Thackeray lives. The long-pending completion of the Mumbai-Goa highway was also discussed.

After Thackeray called on Fadnavis at his official residence ‘Varsha’ in the morning, MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande told reporters that the condition of the Mumbai-Goa Highway was discussed between the meeting.

He also highlighted the plight of Nagothane bridge on the Mumbai-Goa highway ahead of the Ganesh festival, when a large number of people from Mumbai travel to their native places in the Konkan region.

Deshpande said the chief minister assured Thackeray that a meeting would be held this week to address the issue.

Last week, Thackeray was very critical of the potholes in Nashik, where the Kumbh Mela will be held next year, and had slammed the state government and BJP-led Nashik Municipal Corporation.

Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said there is nothing wrong with Thackeray meeting Fadnavis.

“He must have gone there with issues related to the state, especially potholes on the Mumbai-Goa Highway and in Nashik,” Raut said.

Asked if there was a political agenda in the meeting, the Rajya Sabha member quipped, “He (Thackeray) must have gone to give Fadnavis a send-off as he is going to Delhi as education minister.” Notably, Fadnavis recently dismissed speculation about his shift to national politics.