MUMBAI, July 18 -- Tremors in the corridors of power grew stronger on Thursday, a day after chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, speaking in a lighter vein in the state legislative council, invited Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray to join the treasury benches. Barely 24 hours later, the two leaders were closeted in the chamber of legislative council chairperson Ram Shinde - a meeting that left political observers wondering whether Fadnavis's light-hearted remark was, in fact, a precursor to serious political realignments in Maharashtra. The meeting, which could signal a thaw in relations between Fadnavis and Thackeray, comes against the backdrop of a simmering cold war between Fadnavis and deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. It's a war that began late last year, when Shinde had to concede chief ministership to Fadnavis when the Mahayuti alliance swept to power in the state. Now, Fadnavis appears to be warming up to Thackeray, arch rival of Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, who ditched Thackeray to join the Fadnavis-led BJP in 2022. What could trigger a tectonic political shift are the upcoming elections to local bodies, including the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The first indication that Thackeray was willing to move past his bitter falling-out with Fadnavis came in December last year, when he met Fadnavis during the winter session of the legislature. Relations between the two had soured in 2019, when the undivided Sena led by Thackeray and the BJP parted ways over the chief ministership after elections that year. Thackeray went on to become chief minister, but in 2022, Fadnavis backed Eknath Shinde in a coup that split the Sena and brought down the Thackeray-led MVA government. In January 2025, Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana, in an editorial titled 'Devabhau Abhinandan' ('Congratulations, Brother Devendra'), praised Fadnavis for his development plans for Naxal-affected Gadchiroli. In due course, Aaditya Thackeray met Fadnavis on a couple of occasions. Then, on Wednesday, Fadnavis virtually invited Thackeray to join the treasury benches, in his speech during the send-off for leader of the opposition Ambadas Danve. Fadnavis joked that there was "scope for Uddhav Thackeray to come to the ruling side". This was followed, not 24 hours later, by the Thackeray-Fadnavis meeting on Thursday. When the media pressed Shinde to comment, he said, "I was busy with my work. Since both leaders were inside in the anti-chamber, I have no idea what they discussed." Uddhav and his son Aaditya, who was also present at the meeting with Fadnavis, are keeping everyone guessing. Commenting on the meeting with Fadnavis, Aaditya Thackeray said, "We presented CM Fadnavis a collection of articles from apolitical individuals, opposing the imposition of Hindi." Asked about Fadnavis's 'invitation' to Uddhav, Aaditya said "friendly exchanges happen in the legislature". Just as Thackeray and Fadnavis appear to be making friendly overtures, relations between the BJP and Shinde-led Sena have hit a new low. Several Sena MLAs have embarrassed the Mahayuti alliance in recent times, with behaviour and remarks bordering on the thuggish - fisting people and urging their cadres to "break the legs" of opponents. With local body elections coming up, the BJP leadership got Shinde to reprimand his MLAs. Thursday's meeting between Thackeray and Fadnavis could serve as a signal to Shinde - a reminder of where he stands in the ever-shifting sands of Maharashtra's political landscape....