Former BJP president Nitin Gadkari held a late night meeting with MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday. The meeting was significant as the state BJP and the MNS have been engaged in a war of words. Mr Gadkari visited Mr Thackeray’s residence Krishnakunj at Dadar on Tuesday night where the two are said to have had dinner. Officials from both the parties, BJP and MNS, claimed that it was a courtesy visit. However, sources from the MNS informed that politics was discussed in the meeting. Earlier this week, Mr Thackeray and BJP leader and the leader of Opposition in the legislative assembly Eknath Khadse were involved in a verbal duel. The MNS leader accused Mr Khadse of “making settlements” with the government. He alleged that Mr Khadse raised issues in the Assembly and then suddenly went silent on them after “striking deals” with the ruling parties. Mr Khadse challenged him to provide proof for his allegations. “In the meeting, Mr Gadkari requested Mr Thackeray to soften his attack on BJP leaders,” the source said. Though Mr Thackeray enjoys very good relations with the former BJP chief, it will be interesting to see whether he honours Mr Gadkari’s request. In his recent public rally, Mr Thackeray had targeted BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Sancheti in connection with alleged irrigation scam in the state. Mr Sancheti is considered to be a close associate of Mr Gadkari. In fact, it is said that Mr Sancheti became an MP only because of his connections with Mr Gadkari.
