Uddhav Thackeray, Devendra Fadnavis Share Flight To Nagpur, Trigger Political Buzz
Uddhav Thackeray, Devendra Fadnavis Share Flight To Nagpur, Trigger Political Buzz
Mumbai, June 26, 2026: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray were seen travelling on the same commercial flight from Mumbai to Nagpur on Friday, sparking political speculation.
The two leaders boarded an IndiGo flight and were seated in the same row, both occupying window seats. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, son of Uddhav Thackeray, was seated next to his father. Leaders from both parties, however, dismissed the development as a coincidence.
Fadnavis was travelling to Nagpur to attend official engagements, while Uddhav Thackeray was heading to Vidarbha as part of his outreach programme following the recent defection of six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. From Nagpur, Thackeray is scheduled to visit the Yavatmal-Washim Lok Sabha constituency, represented by former Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Deshmukh, who recently joined the Shinde faction. During the visit, Thackeray is expected to interact with party office-bearers and Shiv Sainiks.
The sight of the two political rivals travelling together generated discussion in political circles, especially in the wake of the recent political developments in Maharashtra.
Reacting to the speculation, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare said there was no political significance to the shared journey, describing it as a mere coincidence. She also remarked that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had encouraged public representatives to avoid unnecessary use of private aircraft and helicopters to reduce fuel consumption, suggesting that this may have been one reason for Fadnavis choosing a commercial flight.
Senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar also dismissed the speculation, saying it was likely that neither leader knew they would be travelling on the same flight. He added that sharing a flight was not a political development unless there had been a substantive discussion between the two leaders. He also ruled out the possibility of any political alliance between the BJP and Shiv Sena (UBT).
