Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray’s residence, ‘Shivtirth’, in Dadar on Thursday to offer prayers during the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. The visit came a day after Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, accompanied by his son Aaditya and wife Rashmi, made a similar visit, signaling a warming of ties between the long-estranged Thackeray cousins. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, a BJP leader, also visited Raj’s home separately to pay respects to Lord Ganesh.

Shinde, speaking to reporters, took a subtle jab at Uddhav, noting, “I visit Raj every year, but some new faces were seen this time.” He dismissed political speculation, saying, “Not everything needs to be public. Let secrets remain secrets.” On Uddhav’s visit, he added, “It’s good when families come together. We wish everyone well,” while downplaying any electoral motives.

Uddhav’s visit on Wednesday, the first day of the 10-day Ganesh festival, marked another step toward reconciliation with Raj, following their joint appearance at a Mumbai event in June after years of rivalry. The timing, ahead of crucial local body elections including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls, has fueled speculation of a potential Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance to counter the BJP-Shinde coalition.

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Raj Thackeray hosts a grand Ganesh puja annually at ‘Shivtirth’, drawing political and cultural figures across party lines. Fadnavis, a key rival of Uddhav, maintained the tradition of visiting, reinforcing the festival’s role as a platform for political signaling. While no explicit political talks were confirmed, the back-to-back visits by Shinde, Fadnavis, and Uddhav underscore the complex interplay of personal ties and political strategy in Maharashtra’s charged electoral landscape.

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