While the BJP is discussing dividing the Marathi vote, Raj Thackeray visits Amit Shah in Delhi

MUMBAI: Raj Thackeray, the leader of the MNS, arrived in Delhi late on Monday and posted images of his meeting with BJP MP Amit Shah on X the following day. Thackeray said he had been “called” to explain his abrupt appearance in the city.
The Facebook post “MNS chief Raj Thackeray met Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi” was posted by his son Amit, who was travelling with him.

I was there for this historic gathering.
There were rumours of a potential alliance sparked by the meeting so close to the Lok Sabha election. Considering Raj Thackeray’s stance against north Indians in the state, observer Ravikiran Deshmukh said the BJP would never have sided with him, but it was now evident that the party was concerned about the Marathi vote.

Bala Nandgaonkar, a member of the MNS, effectively divided the Marathi votes during his two Lok Sabha campaigns from Mumbai South. Deshmukh said that Thackeray could insist on winning two seats: Mumbai South and Kalyan. Marathi voters are mostly found in Sewri, Worli, and Byculla in Mumbai South. According to Deshmukh, Uddhav Thackeray was the target of their sympathies.
The BJP has been overtly courting Raj Thackeray ever since the coalition between the party and the united Shiv Sena, headed by Uddhav Thackeray, broke apart in 2019.