'Era Belongs To Modiji': Maharashtra MLA Predicts Uddhav Thackeray's U-Turn To BJP By June 20

Maharashtra MLA Ravi Rana has made a bold prediction, claiming that former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, who was once a close ally of the BJP until the 2019 rift between the Shiv Sena and the BJP, will rejoin their ranks by June 20.

"I can confidently say that within 15 days of Modiji becoming Prime Minister again, Uddhav Thackeray will join the Modi government and stand with Modiji. The upcoming era belongs to Modiji, and Uddhav Thackeray is aware of this. It is Narendra Modiji who is carrying forward the ideas of Balasaheb Thackeray," said Rana.

He also took a swipe at the opposition MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) - a coalition of the Congress, the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) and the Shiv Sena (UBT), suggesting they should prepare for a shock. "Opposition MVA leaders should have blood pressure medications and doctors on standby... many of them will fall ill on June 4," the Badnera MLA quipped.

Sanjay Raut, a close aide of Thackeray, dismissed Rana's claims. "Uddhav Thackeray has been leading the Shiv Sena for 25 years. (After the election) Uddhav Thackeray will decide. A person like Ravi Rana has no right to speak on Uddhav Thackeray."

Earlier this month, PM Narendra Modi, seemed open for a possible rapprochement, encouraging Uddhav Thackeray- and Sharad Pawar-led factions to merge with their breakaway units instead of "dying by merging" with the Congress.

"Nakli NCP and nakli Shiv Sena have decided to merge with the Congress... but instead of fading away, they should join Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde," he said.