Fadnavis Downplays Coincidental Flight with Rival Thackeray, Calls it a 'Mere Coincidence'

Fadnavis also said that his and former ally-turned-political rival Uddhav Thackeray's travel on the same flight from Mumbai to Nagpur on Friday was a mere coincidence. He dismissed political speculation about this as "bhedyancha bazaar" (madman's market). Speaking to reporters after reviewing the Wadhawan port and other infrastructure projects in the Adpalghar district, Fadnavis said that it was not unusual for two leaders to travel in the same plane. He responded to Thackeray's "Operation Devendra" statement by saying, "I am human. I don't have wings, so how can anyone cut them? I have the blessings of the 14 crore people of Maharashtra and my senior leaders, so there is nothing to worry about." Addressing a rally on Saturday, Uddhav Thackeray had said that "Operation Tiger" is actually "Operation Devendra," which is aimed at weakening the Maharashtra chief minister so much that he cannot join the race for the prime minister's post in the future.