Uddhav Thackeray Offers Conditional Support for Fadnavis as PM, Warns of Political Risks

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said his party would support Devendra Fadnavis if he were to become a prime ministerial candidate, but added that such an ambition would amount to 'political suicide' within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) because its central leadership would never permit it.

Thackeray was responding to a question at a press conference in Shirdi, one of the Lok Sabha constituencies where the party's MP Bhausaheb Wakchaure recently rebelled. He said, 'If a Marathi person were to sit in the Prime Minister's chair, why would the Shiv Sena not support it? A person from Maharashtra is not a traitor.'

However, he immediately added a caveat: 'If Devendra Fadnavis were to propose and announce that he is preparing for the Prime Minister's post, would he even remain in the party? Declaring that he is preparing for the PM post is political suicide for him.' Thackeray said he would answer questions about the 2029 elections only when Fadnavis actually makes such an announcement.

The remarks came a day after Thackeray claimed that 'Operation Tiger', under which six Lok Sabha MPs from his party switched to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, was actually 'Operation Devendra Fadnavis' — aimed at clipping Fadnavis's wings within the BJP. On Monday, he reiterated that Fadnavis's position as Chief Minister could be in danger, citing examples of BJP leaders Nitin Gadkari and Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who were moved to Delhi after being seen as potential PM candidates.

Thackeray also took a jibe at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, referring to the 'Shah Sena' and claiming that Shah wants to install Eknath Shinde as Chief Minister. He questioned whether the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) still has control over who becomes BJP chief minister, and whether it approves of 'politics of poaching and betrayal'.

Asked about the possibility of reuniting with Fadnavis, Thackeray said, 'Because Devendra Fadnavis and I are on opposite sides, the people who are creating confusion in the middle do not realise things. Should we come together? That is his question. I am a well-wisher of his. I am speaking about what is in Devendra Fadnavis's mind. I have no initiative to take; it is up to the will of the higher power.'