Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar met Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday. The meeting comes a day after the meeting of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, which has triggered a period of political speculation.

Sources said Pawar met at Uddhav Thackeray's official residence and it lasted for about 40 minutes. However, the immediate details of what was talks happened during the meeting of the two leaders could not be obtained. Sources, however, said that there were some discussions regarding future unlock and COVID-19 status in the state, which the two leaders discussed during the meeting.

It is noteworthy that Fadnavis and Raut had met in a hotel in Mumbai on Saturday. After this meeting, a period of speculation started. However, Fadnavis said on Sunday that the BJP had no intention of joining hands with the Shiv Sena or topple the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government.

Fadnavis said, 'Sanjay Rautji wanted to interview me for Shiv Sena mouthpiece' Saamana '. We had a meeting to discuss this. There was no political conversation in the meeting. 

Sanjay Raut ji wanted to take my interview for Shiv Sena's newspaper Saamana. The meeting was held to discuss the same as I had put certain conditions, I wanted it to be published unedited. No political talks held in meeting: Devendra Fadnavis, Former Maharashtra CM & BJP leader https://t.co/AuRcCtSOXU pic.twitter.com/2BabKfCXAU

— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2020

Earlier on Sunday morning, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut also clarified the meeting, saying, 'I met Devendra Fadnavis yesterday (Saturday) to discuss some issues. He is a former CM. Apart from this, he is the leader of the opposition in Maharashtra and is also the Bihar election in-charge of the BJP. He said that there may be ideological differences between us but we are not enemies.CM Uddhav was aware of this meeting.

I met Devendra Fadnavis yesterday to discuss certain issues. He is a former CM. Also, he's the leader of opposition in Maharashtra & #BiharPolls-in charge of BJP. There can be ideological differences but we are not enemies. CM was aware about our meeting: Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena pic.twitter.com/6OdXCbWWMt

— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2020

Maharashtra BJP also gave a clarification
on the meeting of Sanjay Raut and Devendra Fadnavis. Maharashtra BJP chief spokesperson Keshav Upadhye said that there was no political view of the meeting. He tweeted, 'Raut wanted to interview Devendra Fadnavis for Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana. This is the only conversation between the two leaders. Upadhyay said, "Fadnavis had informed Raut that he will give interviews when he returns from Bihar's election campaign." 

???? ??????????? @Dev_Fadnavis ??? ??????? ???? @rautsanjay61 ????? ??? ???? ???. ???? ???? ????? ????????? ???????? ?????? ????? ?????? ???????? ????? ????????? ???? ????. ?????? ?? ??????????? ???? ????????? ???? ????. ?? ??????? ?????? ???????? ????...1

— Keshav Upadhye (@keshavupadhye) September 26, 2020

Let me tell you that after the assembly elections held last year, the BJP and Shiv Sena, which have been long-time allies, parted their way. The BJP and Shiv Sena contested the assembly elections together but the two split up after a dispute over seat sharing. The Shiv Sena broke the alliance with the BJP and formed a government with Sharad Pawar's NCP and Congress.