Suspicion Lingers Though Uddhav Sena MPs Deny Meeting Shinde Sena

Political scene in Maharashtra is witnessing another turmoil following news channel reports that eight of the nine Lok Sabha members of the Shiv Sena (UBT) attended a secret meeting with the Shiv Sena led by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. Both sides have discounted the news promptly though the pall of suspicion refuses to disappear. The only Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha member not mentioned in the news is Uddhav Thackeray’s confidant Anil Desai. Shinde himself and his son Dr Shrikant, MP, also has described the reports as a figment of the imagination. However, such news items have been circulating ever since the BJP won the state assembly election with a landslide majority. There also have been murmurs that a large number of Sena (UBT) functionaries are eager to return to the Hindutva fold from which the party has distanced itself. Only a few days ago, a couple of Sena (UBT) MPs were roasted since they attended a celebration at the residence of former Union minister of state and Sena (Shinde) MP Pratap Jadhav in New Delhi. Soon afterwards, Uddhav held a meeting at Matoshree to sense the mood within the party. Even before the aftermath of this event has subsided, the latest reports have renewed speculation about the Sena (UBT) moving towards the ruling party. The Thane meeting was said to have occurred at the residence of Dr Shrikant Shinde. According to latest whispers, some major development can happen after results of the five state assembly elections are out in early May.