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Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis wait for an elevator in the Vidhan Sabha, in Mumbai on June 27 (Image: IANS)
On the first day of the last session of the state legislature, Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis met Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, who was waiting for a lift, and later the two were seen sharing a lift.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday joked about a “secret meeting”, after an accidental meeting with BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis outside a lift in the Vidhan Sabha generated much speculation. The two leaders were spotted exchanging more than a few words and even shared a lift. When asked later, the former Maharashtra chief minister reportedly said “he will hold a secret meeting in the lift”.
Watch: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis share the same lift on their way to the Vidhan Sabha pic.twitter.com/YmefNTcbGQ— IANS (@ians_india) June 27, 2024
On the first day of the last session of the state legislature, the media went into a frenzy when Fadnavis ran into Thackeray, who was waiting for a lift. And another, when he beckoned his archrival to ride the elevator together when a couple of people had been asked to leave.
A smiling Thackeray had to and went up from the lower floor to the upper floor where the place was. But after stepping down, both sides walked in the direction of the opposition. Later, when a media person asked Thackeray what the two leaders had said, he said it was a coincidence and nothing else.
In another development, BJP leader Chandrakant Patil dropped by to meet Thackeray, leader of opposition (council) Ambadas Danve, former minister Anil Parab and others at the Shiv Sena (UBT) office. There was a pleasant atmosphere of camaraderie, as Patil even distributed chocolates and said “advance” to Parab who participated in the recently concluded MLC elections, the results of which are expected on July 1. relationship always.
Shiv Sena leader Bharat Gogavale sought to downplay the scenario, and dismissed the possibility of talks between the BJP and Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. However, his friend Sanjay Shirsat said that Thackeray and Fadnavis might be “winking” at each other.
What happened on Day 1 of monsoon session?
But ahead of the monsoon session, Thackeray took a jibe at the government calling it a “leak government” and said people would say “tata, bye-bye”. “Monsoon session (Maharashtra Assembly) starts today, but people are saying ‘tata, bye-bye’ to this government. The budget will be announced by this government tomorrow. We expect them to tell us how much money is spent in Maharashtra. This government leaks; leaks are happening in Ram Mandir and there is also a problem of paper leaks,” he said.
Opposition members also staged a protest on the grounds of Vidhan Bhavan when the monsoon session of the state legislature began. The protesters, who were in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP (SP), raised slogans against the government on issues related to farmers and the NEET exam.
Sitting on the steps of the state legislative complex, opposition members raised slogans holding placards. On Wednesday (June 26), the opposition alliance boycotted CM Eknath Shinde’s traditional tea party on the eve of the session, pointing to the government’s failure to address mass issues.
During the session, which was held in Mumbai from June 27 to July 12, the ruling Mahayuti will present the state budget in both houses of Parliament on June 28. The interim budget was presented in February before the Lok Sabha elections.
(With agency input)
