UDDHAV, FADNAVIS CHAT WHILE WAITING FOR LIFT, SPARK SPECULATION

A ‘surprise’ meeting between Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inside the Vidhan Bhavan premises on Thursday sparked speculation of the two parties realigning. Thackeray, however, dismissed the rumours, saying that it was “an informal chat”.

On the first day of the Monsoon Session, Thackeray and Fadnavis unexpectedly met on the premises of the state legislature as they waited to enter a lift to reach the Legislative Council chamber on the second floor. The former Maharashtra chief ministers exchanged words while waiting and entered the lift together.

“We met coincidentally and it was an informal chat,” Thackeray said later at a press conference where he demanded that the Maharashtra government grant a complete waiver on farm loans and complete its implementation before the Assembly polls scheduled to be held later this year.

Thackeray also termed the Monsoon Session as a “send-off session” for the current Mahayuti government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

“They are going to present their budget on Friday. But first of all, they should say how many promises they made in the earlier budget have been fulfilled. They should release a white paper on the completion of their promises. I am sure the white paper will be blank,” Thackeray said.

Taking a swipe at the Centre and the state government, Thackeray said they are “leakage governments”, a reference to the alleged leak of this year’s NEET-UG exam and reports of water leaks at the Ayodhya Ram temple.

Earlier, Thackeray met Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil, visited the office of Opposition leader Ambadas Danve in the Legislative Council, distributed chocolates, and engaged in a light-hearted conversation with several other leaders.

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2024-06-27T10:48:05Z dg43tfdfdgfd