Omraje Nimbalkar says no one would be happier if both Shiv Senas came together

Different political equations are being discussed in Maharashtra these days. On one side, a merger of the two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party is being talked about. On the other, the question has now arisen whether the Thackeray and Shinde factions of the Shiv Sena will unite again. A statement by MP Omraje Nimbalkar has fuelled the discussion further, and minister Bharat Gogawale has also responded to it indirectly.

Omraje Nimbalkar, MP from Dharashiv, gave his view on the two Shiv Senas coming together. He said that if the two Shiv Senas became one, no one would be happier than he would.

Nimbalkar also said the heads of the two parties are different, so the final decision on unity will have to be taken by Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde. According to him, the wish that both Shiv Senas come together is shared by party workers and the general public alike.

Notably, only a few months ago Nimbalkar left the Thackeray faction and joined Shinde's Shiv Sena. For this reason, his statement is being widely discussed in political circles.

Minister Bharat Gogawale was also asked about the two Shiv Senas coming together. He said that in the present circumstances he does not see anything of the kind happening. But, he said, in politics one cannot say what may happen when. In Gogawale's words, morning can become evening and evening can become morning.

Gogawale also said that if Gulabrao Patil has received any information on the matter, he will ask him at the cabinet meeting to be held next Tuesday.

Earlier, minister Gulabrao Patil had used a railway analogy on the talk of the two Shiv Senas uniting. He had said, "Eknath Shinde is our engine and we are the railway coaches. The coaches will go wherever the engine goes." In this way, he had made clear that only Eknath Shinde's decision matters.

The talk of the NCP merger and the leaders' statements on a Shiv Sena reunion have set off discussion of new equations in state politics. However, no official decision has been announced so far on whether the two Shiv Senas will actually come together. All eyes are therefore on the stance of Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde.