NEW DELHI: Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday dismissed any political angle in Raj Thackeray’s visit to Matoshree on Uddhav’s birthday.Fadnavis said the visit should not be seen with a “political lens” and that electors of the state had shown their intent in last year’s assembly polls.“Raj Thackeray went to wish Uddhav Thackeray on his birthday. It’s a matter of happiness. Why should we view it politically? We also extend our best wishes to Uddhav ji. Going to wish someone on their birthday should not be seen through a political lens. You saw what’s in the heart of Maharashtra during the Assembly elections. You will see it again in the upcoming local body elections,” Fadnavis was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.Weeks after joining hands to oppose the government’s move to introduce Hindi as a medium of instruction from Classes 1 to 5, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday visited the house of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray in Bandra East to wish him on his 65th birthday.In a warm display of camaraderie, Uddhav welcomed Raj with a heartfelt hug, while Raj presented his “big brother” with a bouquet of red roses. The visit marked Raj Thackeray’s first entry into Matoshree since his departure from the Shiv Sena and the formation of the MNS in 2006. After the exchange of pleasantries, Raj and Uddhav held a private conversation lasting nearly 20 minutes. The visit is now being viewed as a significant step toward solidifying a potential MNS-Shiv Sena (UBT) alliance for the upcoming local body elections scheduled for November–December this year.Political observers note that the cousins meeting twice in less than a month strongly signals that a political reunion may follow the recent family thaw, likely to be formalised once the elections are officially announced. Sunday’s birthday meeting marked their second joint appearance after the July 5 rally opposing the imposition of Hindi in schools.
