Maharashtra's political landscape was abuzz when Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena's chief, and Devendra Fadnavis, the state's Deputy Chief Minister, were spotted sharing a seemingly impromptu conversation in a Vidhan Bhawan lift.
This encounter during the monsoon session's first day sparked speculations about potential shifts in political alignments, though Thackeray dismissed it as a casual chat.
The viral video capturing their exchange as they waited for the lift intrigued many, prompting curiosity about their discussion. Thackeray humorously remarked that it's fortunate lifts don't have ears, hinting at the intrigue surrounding such "secret meetings."
Later, addressing media queries, Thackeray playfully referenced a popular song to downplay any significant developments from the encounter, asserting there were no plans for unexpected alliances.
BJP legislator Pravin Darekar, who witnessed the scene, noted that Fadnavis headed towards the ruling party's offices upon exiting the lift, while Thackeray proceeded towards the opposition's quarters, suggesting no imminent shifts in political stance.
Adding a light-hearted touch to the day, Senior BJP minister Chandrakant Patil presented Thackeray with a bouquet and chocolate during another interaction, prompting Thackeray to jest about handing out "chocolates" to the public, possibly hinting at forthcoming budgetary sops.
During a subsequent press conference, Thackeray criticised both the Maharashtra government and the BJP-led Centre over issues like the NEET-UG paper leak and controversies surrounding the Ram temple, dubbing them as "leakage governments" due to their alleged mishandling of these matters.
The encounter in the lift, while intriguing, seems to have been more about courtesy and light banter than a harbinger of seismic political shifts in Maharashtra. As the session progresses, the state's political dynamics continue to evolve amidst ongoing debates and legislative sessions.
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