A 'Welcome Change': Maharashtra Political Dynamics Shift

Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde described the meeting between Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and CM Devendra Fadnavis as a 'welcome change,' signifying potential political collaboration. The conversation centered around political maturity post-election and the critique of the opposition's stance on EVMs.

In a significant political development, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday characterized the recent meeting between Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as a 'welcome change.' This interaction, which occurred at Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur, also included Aaditya Thackeray, marking a step towards potential political collaboration.

Shinde, addressing reporters during the Winter Session of the state legislature, emphasized the importance of political maturity. He noted that previous criticism from opposition parties, who once celebrated Lok Sabha results and speculated about jailing political adversaries, now finds common ground in meeting the state's leadership.

Amid ongoing debates over the credibility of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Shinde defended the BJP-led government against criticisms from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). He stressed the Mahayuti alliance's commitment to governance, urging respect for electoral mandates while criticizing MVA's inconsistent performance in recent polls.

(With inputs from agencies.)