MLA claims Uddhav returning to NDA

Mumbai: Maharashtra independent MLA Ravi Rana, who supports the BJP, has made claims that Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray will return to NDA’s fold within 15 days after Narendra Modi takes oath as the Prime Minister for the third term. Calling it a 'Modi era,' Rana said Thackeray is well aware of it.

"I can confidently say... 15 days after Modiji becomes Prime Minister again, Uddhav Thackeray will be seen in the Modi government and with Modiji. The coming era is of Modiji and Uddhav Thackeray knows this. It is Narendra Modiji who is taking the ideas of Balasaheb Thackeray forward," Rana said.

Uddhav Thackeray, who keeps making remarks about us will surely make a backdoor entry into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) within 15 days of Narendra Modi taking oath as a PM. The PM has said that the window is always open for Uddhav as he is the son of Balasaheb Thackeray, the MLA added.

Rana claimed that his earlier predictions of Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar quitting the Shiv Sena and NCP respectively and joining hands with the BJP also proved accurate. “I know, this time as well, I will be right," he said.

Rana's wife Navneet Rana, is the outgoing Amravati MP and the BJP candidate from the same constituency in the Lok Sabha polls.

Rana's claims have been rubbished by the Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut who said, "Uddhav Thackeray has been leading the Shiv Sena for 25 years and he will take a call. A person like Ravi Rana has no right to speak about Uddhav Thackeray."

In one of the recent interviews, Modi had said he will offer help to Uddhav Thackeray in case of any crisis. "I can never forget the love and affection of Balasaheb Thackeray towards me," said the PM when asked if he considers thr former Maharashtra chief minister as the rightful heir to Balasaheb Thackeray. PM Modi said he will always be grateful to Balasaheb Thackeray and can never speak against him and added he’ll be the first to help Uddhav if he’s in trouble.

However, Uddhav Thackeray made it clear that he will never go back with the BJP. “Even if the doors are open, do whatever you want. I will not come to you. And there will be no need to come back to you because you will not be there (in power)," he said