Who scripted the reunion?

As the Thackeray cousins reunited after two decades on Saturday, the question on everyone's mind was: Who mediated between them? And, was the script of the reunion written by someone?

- SHAILESH GAIKWAD

s the Thackeray cousins reunited after two decades on Saturday, the question on everyone's mind was: Who mediated between them? And, was the script of the reunion written by someone?

A popular conspiracy theory was that chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had something to do with the reunion. Reason: It would cut deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde to size. Several leaders from the ruling Mahayuti as well as the opposition Congress-NCP(SP) have been pointing out that the whole thing started after Fadnavis had a closed-door meeting with Raj Thackeray on June 12. Five days later, the government issued a revised GR on Hindi as third language that restarted the agitation against the decision. Thereafter, the Thackeray cousins planned separate rallies. Then Raj called up Sanjay Raut for a joint rally and what happened after that is public knowledge.

The reunion will mean a division of traditional Shiv Sena votes in the local body polls and could be a setback to the Shinde-led Sena. The move could also split the MVA as Congress does not want an alliance with Raj. In a triangular contest in local body polls in the state, BJP will be the winner, they say.

Another theory is that NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar advised the brothers to bury the hatchet pointing out that their outfits would become nonentities if Mahayuti wins big in the polls.