Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the latter’s official residence in Mumbai on Thursday, igniting speculation about potential political realignments ahead of the upcoming local body polls. The meeting follows a stinging defeat for the MNS and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) in their first joint electoral venture, the BEST Employees’ Co-operative Credit Society elections on Wednesday, where their combined panel failed to secure a single seat.

Fadnavis had criticized the Thackeray cousins for politicizing the credit society polls by leveraging the “Thackeray brand,” a charge that added fuel to the already charged political atmosphere. Posts on X and media reports suggest the meeting may have focused on the fallout from the BEST election loss and the possibility of MNS aligning with the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls expected by April 2026.

Despite earlier talks of an MNS-Sena (UBT) alliance, the recent electoral setback has raised questions about its viability. Political analyst Vivek Deshpande noted, “Raj Thackeray’s meeting with Fadnavis could signal a strategic pivot, especially with MNS’s influence in Mumbai.” As the state braces for high-stakes civic elections, this unexpected rendezvous has left observers wondering about Raj Thackeray’s next move.

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