You have scope to come to our side: Fadnavis invites Uddhav to BJP fold

Mumbai: In a tongue-in-cheek remark, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday told his former ally Uddhav Thackeray that the BJP was not likely to join him in the opposition, but he can come over to the ruling side.

Fadnavis was speaking at a farewell function in the legislative council for leader of opposition Ambadas Danve. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was seated next to him.

"Uddhav ji, there is no scope (for a change in government) till 2029. We do not have the scope to come to the other (opposition's) side. You have the scope to come here, and it can be thought about. We can think about it differently," the chief minister said.

The undivided Shiv Sena led by Thackeray parted ways with the longtime ally BJP after the 2019 assembly elections.

Fadnavis's remark came amid reports of continuing unease between him and Shinde, who split the Shiv Sena in 2022 and joined hands with the BJP. Shinde was said to be unhappy when he had to cede the chief minister's post to Fadnavis after the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance retained power with a landslide victory in the 2024 elections.