Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Thursday hinted at a potential reconciliation between Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde, stating, “Anything can happen in the future.” The remark follows rising tensions within the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) bloc after Sharad Pawar’s visit to Chief Minister Shinde’s office.
Sarnaik Downplays Political Hostility
Sarnaik defended the cross-party meeting, asserting that personal relationships often outweigh ideological divides in Maharashtra politics. He questioned Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut’s criticism of Pawar’s visit, stating, “There is nothing wrong for him to sit in Eknath Shinde’s office.”
He added that political animosity may not be permanent, citing the state’s tradition of leaders attending weddings and family functions together. “In the future, if Aaditya Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray, and Eknath Shinde are seen in a car… don’t hate someone so much,” Sarnaik said.
Pawar-Shinde Meeting Triggers MVA Infighting
The controversy began after Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leader Sharad Pawar met Shinde in his Vidhan Bhavan office. Pawar was present for a committee meeting on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute before the informal gathering.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut condemned the move, calling Shinde a “traitor” and arguing that Pawar’s visit undermined the MVA’s credibility. The NCP (SP) retaliated, accusing Raut of double standards, noting past praise for Pawar’s meetings with Uddhav Thackeray.
Background of the Shiv Sena Split
The rift traces back to June 2022, when Eknath Shinde led a revolt against then-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, taking most of the party’s MLAs. Shinde later allied with the BJP to form the government, securing the official Shiv Sena name and symbol from the Election Commission.
In the recent Lok Sabha elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) won 9 seats, but six of its MPs later defected to Shinde’s faction.
