Former BJP chief Nitin Gadkari today met Raj Thackeray here, triggering speculation that the saffron party is trying to win over the MNS chief into NDA for upcoming elections even as he said there is no reason for Shiv Sena to be annoyed by his meeting with Raj.
RPI (A) led by Ramdas Athawale, also an important constituent of the 'Mahayuti' (grand alliance) led by BJP and Shiv Sena, said he would "welcome" Raj into NDA-fold.
Gadkari, who is said to enjoy a good rapport with Raj Thackeray, met him at a suburban hotel here.
MNS' high-pitch debut in 2009 elections had caused a largescale division of Marathi votes ensuring the defeat of Shiv Sena candidates in Lok Sabha and assembly polls.
The development sent the political parties into a tizzy as Shiv Sena is a traditional bete noire of MNS and also an all-weather ally of BJP.
In the past also, the state BJP leadership had tried to woo Raj Thackeray but the efforts suffered a setback as Raj publicly criticised BJP's PM candidate for "harping on" the Gujarat model of development and skirting the mention of Shiv Sena supremo late Bal Thackeray during his rally here.
Speaking to the media later in the evening, Gadkari said, "I discussed with the MNS chief the ways to get rid of the Congress government."
"There is no reason for Uddhav Thackeray to be annoyed over my meeting Raj...I meet everybody including Congress people," he said.
Asked if Sharad Pawar-led NCP will come over to NDA after the elections, Gadkari said anything can happen in cricket and politics.
"We are confident of getting a clear majority on our own," the BJP leader added.
