In a notable political commentary ahead of the crucial Maharashtra civic elections, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis referred to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray as an ‘open university’, highlighting the MNS leader’s unique political autonomy and his capacity to independently decide alliances. Fadnavis’s remarks came amidst ongoing speculation about the potential alignment of the MNS with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) continued engagement with Raj Thackeray.

Speaking at a recent event, Fadnavis revealed that the BJP has maintained communication with Raj Thackeray before significant electoral milestones, including the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, and plans to continue talks before the upcoming municipal elections. However, he stopped short of confirming any definite political alliance, stating, “I cannot tell you now what the outcome of those talks will be.”

Fadnavis metaphorically described Raj Thackeray as operating under an ‘open statute’, suggesting that the MNS has the freedom to chart its own political course:

“Raj is like an open university. He has his own statute. Who will or will not get a degree from such an open university cannot be predicted.”

This comment signalled a degree of ideological flexibility, with Fadnavis adding that such autonomy allows Raj Thackeray and the MNS to independently decide their political partners. He further hinted at a convergence of political ideology by noting, “There is hardly any difference between the BJP and the MNS.”

The upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections are seen as a key battleground where these political maneuvers will play out. Civic elections tend to focus on grassroots party workers and local issues, making alliances and candidate selection critical. Fadnavis highlighted the competition by stating, “Corporation elections are always about the party workers. So every party feels it should contest more seats.” He acknowledged the complexity of alliances by pointing out the presence of three major players in the ‘Mahayuti’ coalition — BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP — and left the door open for possible collaboration.

Meanwhile, the long-standing estrangement between Raj Thackeray and his cousin Uddhav Thackeray appears to be thawing. Shiv Sena minister Uday Samant’s recent visit to Raj Thackeray in Mumbai sparked fresh speculation about rapprochement between the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT). Despite Samant’s public claim that no political discussions took place during the meeting, political analysts believe that the cousins are exploring ways to join forces, particularly to consolidate the Marathi vote in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

Both Raj and Uddhav Thackeray have made conciliatory statements in recent weeks, with Raj emphasizing the need to unite for the interests of native Marathi speakers, and Uddhav indicating willingness to set aside personal differences as long as certain adversaries — notably the BJP and Eknath Shinde faction — are excluded.

The BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena are reportedly trying to woo the MNS into their fold for the upcoming civic elections, adding further layers of political intrigue.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut confirmed the party’s positive response to Raj Thackeray’s overtures, stating, “We are waiting for them to reciprocate our response. We respected public sentiments. Till now, we were being accused that we did not want rapprochement.”

As Maharashtra gears up for these important local elections, the evolving political dynamics between BJP, MNS, Shiv Sena (UBT), and other key players are likely to shape the electoral landscape in Mumbai and beyond.

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