Rival Leaders Share Stage at Marathi Cartoon Book Launch

On October 29, 2026, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appeared on the same dais as Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray for the launch of *Maharashtrachya Hasyaresha*, a volume chronicling the history of Marathi political cartoons compiled by cartoonist-editor Prashant Kulkarni. The gathering, held at Mumbai’s Savarkar Smarak, featured light-hearted exchanges among the three leaders, who are cousins but political rivals.

Devendra Fadnavis, Thackeray Cousins Trade Hilarious Jibes At Book Launch

The three figures were once aligned through the long-standing BJP-Shiv Sena partnership that governed Maharashtra until the 2019 assembly elections. After the polls, the alliance fractured over the allocation of the chief-ministerial post, turning the BJP and the then-unified Shiv Sena into arch-rivals. The 2019 split remains a reference point in Fadnavis’s remarks, underscoring the lingering personal and partisan tensions.

Devendra Fadnavis, Thackeray Cousins Trade Hilarious Jibes At Book Launch

Fadnavis framed the joint appearance as “part of Maharashtra’s political tradition,” emphasizing that politicians from different parties can share cultural events. He announced a proposal to create a dedicated gallery for cartoonists in Mumbai, pledging to seek support from both Thackerays for the project. The cultural minister Ashish Shelar praised Fadnavis for accepting Raj Thackeray’s invitation and suggested that leaders set aside differences for art and culture.

Devendra Fadnavis, Thackeray Cousins Trade Hilarious Jibes At Book Launch ThePrint'Had You Called, I Would Have Met You': CM Devendra Fadnavis' Remark To Uddhav Thackeray Sets Political Tongues Wagging In Maharashtra

• “Had Uddhavji called me at that time, I would have come to meet you. I waited for the call which never came,” — Devendra Fadnavis, maharashtra chief minister

'Had You Called, I Would Have Met You': CM Devendra Fadnavis' Remark To Uddhav Thackeray Sets Political Tongues Wagging In Maharashtra

• “Ashish ji, before 2019, whenever Uddhavji called me, I went to meet him. He stopped the calls in 2019,” — Devendra Fadnavis, maharashtra chief minister

'Had You Called, I Would Have Met You': CM Devendra Fadnavis' Remark To Uddhav Thackeray Sets Political Tongues Wagging In Maharashtra

The event highlights a rare moment of civility amid ongoing factionalism in Maharashtra’s politics. By linking the launch to a broader cultural initiative—a gallery showcasing the work of 75 cartoonists—the leaders signaled a willingness to cooperate on non-partisan projects, even as electoral rivalries persist. The public banter also served to remind observers of the personal history that predates the 2019 split, offering a glimpse of how political narratives can be softened through shared cultural heritage.

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