Raj Thackeray, the chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), recently had a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at a luxury hotel in Mumbai, sparking rumors of a potential shift towards aligning with the BJP-led Mahayuti government instead of his cousin Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT).

The meeting took place at Taj Lands End in Bandra and lasted for over an hour. It was not publicly announced and was not part of either leader's official agenda.

This development follows a period of emotional appeals, symbolic gestures, and strategic signals from the Shiv Sena (UBT) calling for a reunification of the Thackeray cousins under a common 'Marathi manoos' banner. While Uddhav Thackeray, his son Aaditya, and other Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders have been advocating for reconciliation, the MNS has remained silent.

Raj Thackeray hinted in a podcast on April 19 that he prioritizes Maharashtra over personal differences, but his party clarified that unity on issues does not necessarily mean forming electoral alliances.

The MNS leadership has maintained that no formal proposal for an alliance has been received. Raj's son Amit emphasized that alliances are not made through media statements, indicating the MNS's firm stance.

The meeting with Fadnavis on Thursday adds to the speculation. Taking place just before the birthdays of both Raj and Aaditya, which the Shiv Sena (UBT) had tried to use as a symbol of unity, this unexpected engagement with Fadnavis suggests a different political strategy by Raj.

Political analysts in the state believe that the meeting is not just a courtesy call, especially with civic polls approaching and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) being a significant target. An MNS-BJP alliance could potentially be more advantageous than one with the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS.

Responding to the meeting, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Kishori Pednekar stated that it was premature to comment on the situation. She mentioned that both brothers have downplayed their differences, and there is a sense of shared sentiment among MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) workers.

Earlier on Thursday, the Shiv Sena, led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, extended an invitation to Raj to join forces with them. Sanjay Shirsat, a Sena leader and minister, reiterated their openness to an alliance with Raj Thackeray.