Why is Shiv Sena UBT trying to woo Devendra Fadnavis?

This happy picture of the meeting of Uddhav Thackeray and Devendra Fadnavis came in December 2024.

If BJP’s good days have returned in Maharashtra, then Devendra Fadnavis is going through his best days. After giving the party a historic victory in the assembly elections, Devendra Fadnavis has become ‘Devabhau’ for his political opponents as well.

The last 5 years in Maharashtra politics have been full of political thrills. Uddhav Thackeray became the Chief Minister of Maharashtra after breaking the alliance with BJP. After the change of power, Devendra Fadnavis became Eknath Shinde’s deputy CM. Leaders like Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar fell from the heights to the ground after their parties broke up – and finally Devendra Fadnavis returned to the peak of power in the state like an ocean.

After missing out in the Lok Sabha elections, Devendra Fadnavis has made such a strong comeback through the Maharashtra assembly elections that everything seems changed. Fadnavis’ electoral performance has defeated all political opponents. Not only Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, but former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is also among those who lost.

The editorial of Shiv Sena-UBT mouthpiece Saamana praising Devendra Fadnavis and the praises from Sanjay Raut as well as Supriya Sule are creating havoc – and the situation is such that even Devendra Fadnavis’s close associates are surprised as to how the situation changed suddenly.

When political opponents start singing praises

It is natural for Devendra Fadnavis’ close associates to be surprised by the reaction of his political opponents, because in politics no one changes sides just like that.

So is all this happening in view of the BMC elections?

Is all this a part of one-sided efforts? Or is some external power also indirectly playing the role of ring master? In some media reports, hints are being made in this regard, and the role of some industrialist is also being considered.

During the Maharashtra elections, a 4-minute Marathi video titled ‘Deva Bhau’ became quite popular. In the video, Devendra Fadnavis was projected as the creator of modern Maharashtra – and the Marathi song was also considered to have played a significant role in BJP’s victory.

Recently, an editorial by Shiv Sena-UBT also came in the same style – ‘Abhinandan Deva Bhau’

And this editorial is surprising most of the people interested in Maharashtra politics. They are surprised because Sharad Pawar’s MP daughter Supriya Sule is also speaking the same language as Uddhav Thackeray’s ally Sanjay Raut.

Supriya Sule’s statement is more surprising. Devendra Fadnavis has been Sharad Pawar’s target since the beginning. Once, there was news that the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sharad Pawar could not move forward because along with giving a place in the Union Cabinet to Supriya Sule, he was advising to make someone else the Chief Minister. This is just a few days before the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections.

On the first day of 2025, about Devendra Fadnavis’ visit to the Naxal-affected area of ​​Gadchiroli, Supriya Sule has definitely said this, Devendra Fadnavis is in action mode from day one… it seems that he is the only one who is working actively… no other minister is active.

Before the elections, when Devendra Fadnavis used to be the Deputy CM and the Home Ministry used to be with him, Supriya Sule had called him a part-time Home Minister, and alleged that he is more busy in Delhi than solving the issues of Maharashtra.

This statement of Supriya Sule has come at a time when Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s mother Asha Pawar is praying to Lord Vitthal for the family to be united again.

And during this time, an interesting incident has also been heard on the occasion of Sharad Pawar’s birthday. It is said that Ajit Pawar and Praful Patel had come with a cake to congratulate Sharad Pawar on his birthday on December 12, and it was written on the cake – ‘Ek Hain To Safe Hain’.

What is the meaning of writing this slogan of Prime Minister Modi on Sharad Pawar’s birthday cake?

Is Uddhav Thackeray extending a hand of friendship towards BJP?

There is no doubt that Uddhav Thackeray must also be feeling the need of BJP’s help. And, BJP has raised a hope by getting Chirag Paswan back the throne that was snatched from him. If BJP is kind, then Uddhav Thackeray’s good days can also return.

In the editorial published in Saamana titled ‘Devabhau, congratulations!’ it is written that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis started work in the new year and for this he chose Gadchiroli district. When many ministers of the cabinet were adamant for the post of guardian minister of lucrative departments and special district.

Saamana writes, when the whole country was busy welcoming and celebrating the new year, Chief Minister Fadnavis spent the first day of the year in Gadchiroli… not only spent, but also inaugurated and performed bhoomipujan of many development projects…launched some projects… he referred to a new phase of development of Gadchiroli. If what the Chief Minister said is true, then it will be positive not only for Gadchiroli, but for the whole of Maharashtra.

The question arises that if Uddhav Thackeray wants to extend a hand of friendship, then does he have anything to give in return like Chirag Paswan? Chirag Paswan has even won 5 Lok Sabha seats from Bihar and has given them in support of BJP.

Nothing else has been said by the Uddhav Thackeray camp after praising Devendra Fadnavis in Saamana, but in the coming days, Uddhav Thackeray can prove to be useful for the BMC elections – in fact, he can prove to be more useful than Eknath Shinde.

If Uddhav Thackeray still has something left, then he should have more influence in Mumbai than Eknath Shinde. Eknath Shinde has more influence in Thane than in Mumbai – and it seems that this is the signal given by Uddhav Thackeray to BJP on the pretext of Devendra Fadnavis.