In a development that sparked speculation in the State political circles, Maharashtra’s deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Friday called on MNS chief Raj Thackeray at the latter’s residence “Shiv Tirth” at Dadar in north-central Mumbai on Friday.
Nearly three weeks after the MNS chief was discharged from Lilavati Hospital on June 25 after a hip replacement surgery, Fadnavis met Raj and made enquiries about his health and wished him speedy recovery from his surgery. Fadnavis was felicitated by Raj and his wife Sharmila, on the former becoming the deputy chief minister of the state. “I am grateful to Raj Thackeray and his wife for felicitating me on the occasion,” the senior BJP leader tweeted.
Fadnavis’ visit to Raj’s residence came eleven days after the MNS’ lone MLA Raju Patil voted in favour of the confidence vote brought in by Maharashtra’s new chief minister Eknath Shinde, who formed a government in the state with the support of the Opposition BJP.
Shinde and Fadnavis, it may be recalled, were sworn in as the Chief Minister and deputy Chief Minister respectively on June 30. Four days later, Shinde won the vote of confidence on the floor of the State Assembly.
On its part, the BJP sought to play down the import of Fadnavis’ visit to Raj’s residence, saying that it was more of a courtesy call than anything else. However, the BJP leader’s “courtesy call” came in the midst of intense speculation that the Shinde group-BJP alliance government might induct MNS’ lone MLA Raju Patil in the State Cabinet in lieu of the MNS’ support to the new dispensation in the state.
Interestingly enough, there was also speculation that the Shinde camp-BJP combine Government had offered ministerial berth to Raj’s son Amit Thackeray. However, the MNS chief himself dismissed speculation. Raj, who had a few years ago turned a staunch critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government, has been cosying up to the BJP in recent months. Even the BJP had openly come out in support of the campaign launched by the MNS chief demanding the removal of loudspeakers from mosques.