Uddhav Thackeray, the leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), was seen in a closed-door meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during the ongoing winter assembly session in Nagpur on December 17, 2024.
The meeting between the two leaders stirred the politics of Maharashtra shortly after Mr. Thackeray publicly questioned the integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) following recent electoral losses.
Why meet the CM now?
The meeting between Mr. Thackeray and Mr. Fadnavis, who have not seen eye to eye since the dramatic political shifts post-2019 elections, could be interpreted as an attempt to either mend fences or strategize on a common political front. However, without explicit statements from either leader, the exact agenda remains speculative.
The development occurred amidst a backdrop of shifting political alliances in Maharashtra, with the Samajwadi Party recently parting ways with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, which includes Thackeray’s faction of Shiv Sena. The state’s politics are further complicated by internal conflicts within other regional parties, giving rise to theories about Thackeray’s motives for this meeting.
The meeting, which took place in a relatively private setting, has fueled speculation about the nature of their discussions. Political analysts suggested several potential reasons for this rendezvous.
One theory posits that Mr. Thackeray, facing legal pressures and internal party strife, might be seeking political alliances or negotiating terms for leniency in ongoing legal battles. Another perspective points towards a possible strategic dialogue to address the ongoing debate over EVM reliability.
Opposition parties question the reliability of EVMs
Former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s skepticism about EVMs aligns with a broader narrative where opposition parties, including Congress and its allies, have selectively questioned the machines’ functionality, particularly after electoral defeats. This was met with criticism from various quarters, including from allies like TMC and Omar Abdullah, who called for solid evidence to back these claims.
The conversation about EVMs and their reliability is not new but gained renewed vigor with each election cycle.