Devendra Fadnavis and Sanjay Raut.
Shiv Sena’s leader Sanjay Raut, confirming the meeting, said it was an interview for Shiv Sena’s spokesperson ‘saamna’, which is headed by Raut.
- News18.com
- Last update: September 27, 2020 4:17 PM IST
- Edited by: Majid Alam
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A meeting between Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut and former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday has sparked speculation in political circles, especially at a time when the two parties are publicly bitter over a variety of issues. The meeting took place at a luxury hotel in the western suburbs of Mumbai.
However, Fadnavis claimed on Sunday that the BJP has no intention of joining the Shiv Sena or overthrowing the state government led by Uddhav Thackeray. Fadnavis claimed that the people of the state are “unhappy” with the performance of the government of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) led by Shiv Sena and that it would “collapse due to its own inactions.”
The BJP leader also said that his meeting with Sanjay Raut was about an interview for Sena spokesperson ‘Saamana’. “We have no intention of joining the Shiv Sena or overthrowing the government. When it falls by itself, we will see,” Fadnavis added.
Sanjay Raut confirming the meeting said that it was an interview for Shiv Sena’s spokesperson ‘Saamana’, which is headed by Raut, NDTV reported.
“Devendra Fadnavis is not our enemy. We have worked with him. I met Fadnavis for his interview for Saamna. This was a predetermined meeting. Even Uddhav Thackeray was aware of this,” Raut said after the meeting.
The Shiv Sena and the BJP have recently closed their houses over a number of issues, including the demolition of the Kangana Ranaut office by the BMC and the Sushant Singh Rajput case.
“Is it a crime to meet Fadnavis, who is a former prime minister and now leader of the opposition in the state Assembly? We have ideological differences but we are not enemies ”, added Raut.
Raut reportedly said that he had interviewed the leader of the CPN, Sharad Pawar, and announced that he had interviewed Fadnavis, Rahul Gandhi and the Minister of the Interior, Amit Shah.
The meeting could be significant given the tension over the Sushant Singh Rajput case and the BJP’s bitter relationship with CM Uddhav Thackeray. While others speculate that it is a message from the Sena allies, Congress and the PNC, that the Sena has good relations with the BJP.
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