Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde's son, Shrikant, meets Raj Thackeray

Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde's son, Shrikant Shinde, on Tuesday met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray at the latter's residence, adding to the speculation of a possible tie-up between the state's ruling coalition and the MNS.

Tuesday's meeting comes days after Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met the MNS chief at his Dadar residence and then came on the stage together to celebrate a Deep utsav programme.

The Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena and the BJP have of late been warming up to Raj Thackeray. The frequent meetings have led to speculation that the BJP and Shinde are keen to get him as part of an alliance to take on the Maha Vikas Aghadi of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray group), Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress.


MNS and Shinde camp leaders said Shrikant Shinde's meeting with Raj was just a "courtesy" during Diwali.

Chief minister Shinde also said on Tuesday that his recent visit to Raj Thackeray's residence along with Fadnavis was a courtesy visit for Diwali. "We didn't have any political discussion among us there," he said.

Meanwhile, MNS and BJP leaders have been making similar statements on the speculation of an alliance.

"The call on the alliance would be discussed by our party president Raj Thackeray and if in the future he says yes to an alliance, then we are ready ... our (Shinde group, BJP and MNS) minds are together..." said Raju Patil, the lone MLA of Raj Thackeray's party.

BJP leader Pravin Darekar said the call on including the MNS in the alliance would be taken by the party higher-ups, but added that the three parties were all having a common ideology.