‘Biggest news of day’: Fadnavis, Uddhav on same flight to Nagpur, video goes viral; parties react

A chance encounter on a commercial flight between Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray has sparked political chatter across the state. The two rival leaders, along with Thackeray's son Aaditya and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, were on the same IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Nagpur.

“

The three of them, Uddhav Thackeray, Sanjay Raut and I myself, were together on the flight is the biggest news.

A video clip circulating on social media showed the leaders seated close to each other on the same row, separated only by the aisle. Nagpur is Fadnavis's hometown, while Thackeray was heading to the city for a Shiv Sena rally as part of a three-day tour of the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions. His tour focuses on constituencies represented by six rebel MPs who recently joined the Eknath Shinde-led faction.

Fadnavis, when asked about the meeting, wryly remarked that the gathering of the three leaders was the "biggest news of the day." He told TV9 Marathi, "The three of them, Uddhav Thackeray, Sanjay Raut and I myself, were together on the flight is the biggest news."

“

If Uddhav Thackeray goes among the people after everything has been lost, it is nothing but a gimmick. Has he ever travelled on an IndiGo flight like this in his life, leaving aside chartered planes? This is merely a stunt. As for his meeting with the Chief Minister on the flight, it was just a coincidence.

However, leaders from both the BJP and the opposition have sought to dismiss any political significance, labeling the meeting a mere coincidence. BJP leader Ram Kadam stated that political leaders maintain personal relationships despite ideological differences. He characterized Thackeray's travel on a commercial flight as a "gimmick" and "stunt," suggesting it was a coincidence and not politically motivated. Congress leader Husain Dalwai echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that political rivals can still interact politely on a commercial flight, dismissing the idea of any "big deal."

“

If there were on the same flight, won't they speak with each other? Politics doesn't mean enmity. Politics is about taking forward respective ideologies... Was it a government aircraft? This was a commercial flight. If they are on the same flight, what is the big deal?