On 16 July 2025, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the Maharashtra Legislative Council invited Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray to join the ruling party in a funny manner, which created a political stir. The statement came during the farewell ceremony of Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve, whose term was ending. Pointing to Uddhav, Fadnavis said, “Uddhav ji, there is no scope to go to our opposition till 2029. But if you want to come on this side (ruling party), it can be considered. It is dependent on you.” The NDA MLAs laughed at this comment, and Fadnavis laughed and said that Danve’s views are right -wing.
Uddhav took this statement lightly and said, “Such things are said in a joke, they should be taken the same.” But this comment gave air to political speculation before the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. Some people consider it to be Fadnavis’s strategy, so that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s message should be conveyed to Shiv Sena, whose recent controversial remarks of MLAs Sanjay Gaikwad and Sanjay Shirsat have made the Mahayuti alliance uncomfortable.
Earlier on July 5, Uddhav and his cousin Raj Thackeray shared a platform after 20 years when the Maharashtra government withdrew the decision to make Hindi a third language in schools. Raj jokingly said, “Fadnavis did what Balasaheb could not do: united us.” Uddhav said, “We have come together for Marathi and will live together.” Fadnavis replied this, saying, “I am happy that I mixed both brothers, maybe Balasaheb is blessing me.”
This statement came at a time when Uddhav and Raj Thackeray discussed an alliance between Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS. Both are talking about being united for Marathi Asmita, but Uddhav clarified that he would not support those working against the interests of Maharashtra. This political developments can create a new equation in Maharashtra politics before the BMC elections.
