Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray at his residence, Shivtirth, in Mumbai’s Dadar on Monday. The informal meeting has sparked speculation about a possible alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and MNS for the upcoming local body elections, particularly the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.
This marks Fadnavis’ first meeting with Thackeray since assuming office in December last year. While details of the discussions remain undisclosed, political analysts believe the conversation revolved around BJP’s strategy to strengthen its position in Mumbai’s civic elections. The BMC, India’s richest municipal corporation, has historically been a political battleground, and BJP is keen on expanding its influence.
The MNS had extended its support to the BJP during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, signaling a possible political alignment. However, in the Maharashtra Assembly elections last November, Thackeray’s party contested independently and failed to win a single seat. With the BMC elections approaching, discussions about a BJP-MNS alliance are gaining momentum, as both parties may look to consolidate votes to counter the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress-NCP alliance.
