Maha churn once more? Raj meets CM Fadnavis; a day after Thackeray brothers draw blank in ‘BEST’ polls | India News

NEW DELHI: Raj Thackeray met Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday, with the timing of the talks fueling curiosity because it comes after the Thackeray brothers (Raj and Uddhav) did not win any of the 21 seats in the BEST Employees’ Cooperative Credit Society ballot.While the main points of the talks stay beneath wraps, the catch-up is tough to brush off for its political significance as Mumbai awaits the long-pending BMC polls.The assembly comes after the primary joint electoral contest by the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in the BEST Employees’ Co-operative Credit Society elections ended in a humiliating defeat on Wednesday.

The Shashank Rao-led BEST Workers’ Union panel gained 14 seats, whereas a BJP-backed panel led by Prasad Lad and Pravin Darekar took seven. The defeat is a setback for Uddhav and Raj forward of BMC polls, with observers calling it a “wake-up call” that uncovered weak ground-level mobilisation.After the outcomes, Fadnavis stated the end result confirmed rejection of “Thackeray brand,” whereas Lad claimed employees punished 25 years of exploitation. Sena (UBT) neta Suhas Samant alleged cash-for-votes, a cost rivals denied.Last month, Uddhav Thackeray and cousin Raj Thackeray shared the stage at a mega rally in Mumbai organised by their events to mark the withdrawal of presidency resolutions (GRs) associated to the three-language coverage. Attacking the BJP-led Mahayuti throughout his handle, Raj Thackeray had stated: “How did they suddenly bring in the imposition of Hindi without any discussion? For what purpose, and for whom? This is an injustice to young children. Without any consultation, you’re trying to force it upon us. You may rule the assembly – but we rule the streets.” “Chief minister Fadnavis managed to do what Balasaheb Thackeray could not – bring myself and Uddhav together,” Raj Thackeray had stated in a dig at Devendra Fadnavis.