What's cooking for UBT Sena? Fadnavis, Aaditya spark meeting buzz after both seen at same hotel

Mumbai: Days after Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, fanning rumours of their possible alliance, his son Aaditya and the CM were present at the same hotel in Mumbai on Saturday evening.

However, as the news went viral, inviting reactions, it appears that Fadnavis and Aaditya, had separate engagements at the same time in the same five-star hotel.

The details of their respective visits to the hotel in the Bandra Kurla Complex is not yet known.

It may be mentioned, last week during the monsoon session of Maharashtra Legislature, Thackeray and Aaditya, the Shiv Sena (UBT) Legislature Party leader had met Fadnavis in the chamber of Legislative Council Chairperson Prof Ram Shinde.

The Shiv Sena (UBT), which has 20 MLAs, the largest chunk in the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, has been demanding the post of Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly.

Earlier, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has made a series of representations to Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on this issue.

Asked about the meeting, Thackeray family aide and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut said: “As far as my information goes, two leaders were in hotel…like two leaders in legislature, like public functions….Uddhav ji met Fadnavis Saheb recently…whether they met or not either Fadnavis or Aaditya met or not…as I said both were in the hotel for separate work.”

However, he asked why there is a “stomach ache” in the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Meanwhile, state Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, who is a close aide of Shinde, said: “We have a strong government…we don’t need anyone…when Maha Yuti needed help they did not (after 2019 Vidhan Sabha polls)”.

Last week, during the farewell to Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Ambadas Danve, Fadnavis had said addressing Thackeray: “At least till 2029, there is no scope for us to come there (opposition). Uddhav Ji can think about the scope of coming to this side (ruling party) and that can be thought about in a different way, but there is absolutely no scope left for us to come there (opposition).”