Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aditya met West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday who is on a visit to Mumbai to promote investment in her state.
The meeting is likely to fuel speculations in the political circles with Shiv Sena and BJP's strained relations in Maharashtra politics, and Sena's increasingly vocal criticism of its ally in power at the state.
Mumbai: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee met Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray; Aditya Thackeray also present. pic.twitter.com/zyds8yCbvY
— ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2017
The Sena chief paid a visit to Banerjee on Thursday afternoon at a south Mumbai hotel where she is staying during her visit to Mumbai, reported ANI. Shiv Sena has dubbed Thackeray's meeting with Banerjee as a courtesy call and rubbished reports on any political agenda behind the visit. The meeting at the Trident Hotel lasted for three hours and the two leaders discussed demonetisation and poor implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), reported CNN-News 18
Shiv Sena says, 'the meeting b/w Mamata Banerjee & Uddhav Thackery was just a courtesy call & there is no other meaning to it.' — ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2017
Both Sena and Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) have been at loggerheads with the BJP, and the Narendra Modi government on a slew of issues, including demonetisation and on making Aadhaar mandatory for availing benefits of government welfare schemes.
On the other hand, Sena recently launched a fresh attack on the state government by releasing a booklet titled Ghotalebaaz BJP (Scamster BJP). The booklet lists all the scams that have taken place under the Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra.
Banerjee, who is in the city since Tuesday and expected to return to Kolkata on Friday, also met top industrialists and bankers on Wednesday as part of a roadshow, ahead of the fourth edition of the Bengal Global Business Summit, to be held in Kolkata in January.
The Shiv Sena had last year teamed up with the TMC in a bid to take on the BJP over the issue of demonetisation.
Thackeray had told media persons in November last year that if there was nothing wrong in Prime Minister Modi meeting (NCP chief) Sharad Pawar, then there was nothing wrong if the Sena held talks with Banerjee on a crucial issue.
With inputs from PTI
Published Date: Nov 02, 2017 05:40 pm | Updated Date: Nov 02, 2017 05:41 pm
